The Christmas Present (and other stories)

Author: Grazia Deledda

Translator: Graham Anderson   Cover design: Marie Lane  

Sample Chapter

Excerpt from Bread:

'The woman who came to mind the bread had a face toasted black from all the ovens in the village. The things she would tell us were all interesting, especially after she had eaten three plates of macaroni and drunk a good glass of wine.
This wine, to tell the truth, was given to her by me. Secretly, because it was not the custom for women to drink wine. She would turn to the wall pretending very realistically to blow her nose, and would drink with her head bent, greedily sucking from the glass.
My mother, who always spoke in hushed tones as if praying, because when bread is being made it is like being in church, did not notice the bread-minder’s sin.'

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