Three Timeless Short Stories by Grazia Deledda, Volume 7

Grazia Deledda’s place in world literature was secured in 1926 when she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, but her position among readers today, at least in the English-speaking world, isn’t quite as clear.

Even among those who may be familiar with the prolific Sardinian writer’s name, few have had the opportunity to read her work. With that in mind, this modest collection of three short stories offers a rewarding introduction to Grazia Deledda’s style and themes, and serves as an ideal starting point for anyone curious about this significant voice in Italian—and world—literature.

Set in the part of Sardinia near the town of Nuoro where Deledda was born, these intriguing tales from a collection originally published in 1912 offer a revealing glimpse into the lives of the people and world the author knew so intimately. Deledda is recognized for her skill at painting vivid characters whose emotions and conflicts resonate with the modern reader, and the selections in this volume are no exception.

In the first story we meet a rich spinster of a certain age who, like a giddy schoolgirl, finally begins to dream of marriage with a handsome, younger cousin… who also happens to be her poor servant. Throw in a witch, a curse, and predatory highwaymen, and it’s quite a story! Next we meet a dark, dour priest leading a parade of pilgrims through the countryside to celebrate the Feast of Christ. When tragedy strikes, is it the fault of a “possessed” horse, or something more mundanely human? Finally, in keeping with the subtle supernatural tone of the prior stories, we meet an elderly woman who is the proud final inhabitant of her crumbling, seemingly cursed village, but the appearance of a fallen woman sows the seeds of conflict and discontent among the hard-working people of the starkly beautiful valley. To what lengths will the wise old woman go to restore tranquility to her life?