
This volume gathers a series of vivid Italian novellas that probe the fragile line between desire and duty. From humble towns to bustling cities, each story captures a moment when ordinary lives are jolted by unexpected emotions. The prose is intimate, drawing listeners into the inner worlds of its characters.
The opening tale follows Fausto Bragia, a struggling organist whose childhood was marked by loss and poverty. After years of obscurity, a sudden encounter with the refined Mrs. Ghedini shatters his routine, filling his sleepless night with a mixture of elation and dread. As he replays every detail of that encounter, he wrestles with the promise of a new future against the weight of his past hardships.
Later stories shift focus— a portrait of a stubborn temperament, a raw confession, a haunting vision of Ofelia, and more—each exploring love, ambition, and revenge in nuanced, often bittersweet ways. Listeners will find a tapestry of human longing that resonates long after the final chapter.
Language
it
Duration
~5 hours (292K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Carlo Traverso, Claudio Paganelli, Barbara Magni and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2013-04-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1839–1915
A leading voice of Italian Verismo, he helped bring realism into modern Italian fiction while also writing criticism, journalism, and memorable stories from Sicily. His work moves easily between everyday life, sharp observation, and a strong interest in how people think and feel.
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