Luigi Capuana

Born in Mineo, Sicily, in 1839, Luigi Capuana was an Italian novelist, short-story writer, literary critic, journalist, and playwright. He began as a poet before turning to criticism and fiction, and became one of Italy’s earliest and strongest advocates of the naturalist novel.

Capuana taught at the Istituto Superiore di Magistero in Rome and later at the University of Catania. His literary criticism influenced writers including Giovanni Verga and Luigi Pirandello, while his fiction explored unusual psychological states, eccentric characters, and the humor and hardships of provincial life.

Among his major works are Giacinta (1879), Profumo (1890), and Il marchese di Roccaverdina (1902), often considered his finest novel. He also wrote popular fairy tales and stories for young readers, including C’era una volta, Scurpiddu, and Cardello. He died in Catania in 1915.