Giovanni Verga 
Sicilian Stories [EPUB ebook] 

With his novels, short stories, and plays, Giovanni Verga (1840–1922) achieved renown in the Italian verismo (realist) school of writing. This outstanding selection of 12 short stories — most from the Sicilian writer’s Vita dei campi (Rural Life) and Novelle rusticane (Rustic Stories) — attests to his storytelling skills.Selections include "Nedda, " a short story that initiated Verga’s naturalistic depictions of Sicilian peasant life; the much-celebrated "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Rustic Chivalry), a tale of flirtation, jealousy, and a deadly duel; and "L’amante di Gramigna" (Gramigna’s Mistress), a fascinating psychological study. The collection also features "Reverie, " "Jeli the Herdsman, " "Nasty Redhead, " "The She-Wolf, " "Pestilential Air, " "Possessions, " "The History of St. Joseph’s Donkey, " "Dark Bread, " and "Liberty."For this dual-language book, the editor has provided excellent new English translations on pages facing the original Italian text, as well as an informative Introduction and notes.