Sparrow, Temptation & Cavalleria Rusticana (Sicilian Novelle)

Author: Giovanni Verga

Translator: Christine Donougher, D.H. Lawrence  

Reviews

Giovanni Verga is one of the 19th Century's greatest writers but his work is barely known outside of Italy. This collection of novellas and short stories showcase his unique talent and places him alongside Chekov as a wonderful exponent of the genre. Stories such as Jeli the Shepherd and the She-Wolf are dazzling in their simplicity but rich in atmosphere and he creates a world peopled by peasants, nuns and fishermen - all evocatively detailed. The novella 'Sparrow' is a perfect example of Verga's talent. Told through the letters of of a Sicilian Nun it is a heartbreaking work and perfectly highlights Verga's skill at describing ordinary people leaving extraordinary lives.

Buzz Magazine