Chiaroscuro

Sometimes satirical, often insightful, always intriguing, these 22 timeless stories collectively paint a vivid portrait of life as it was, once upon a time in Sardinia. It’s a world of love and faith and wit and hard work, but the darker side of human nature is revealed as well: greed, jealousy, desperation, deceit, and even murder motivate a broad cast of characters who remain entirely relatable today. Grazia Deledda brings her memorable protagonists to life with a disarmingly straightforward and engaging voice and sets them in the world she knew well: a hardscrabble agricultural landscape immersed in a multi-layered culture of paganism, superstition, and Catholicism. And it’s all framed with an unmistakable sense of place. Dreamlike descriptions of Deledda’s beloved homeland unfold throughout the narrative, providing an intimate glimpse of the awe and majesty of that unique Sardinian landscape which serves not only as the stage for every story, but as a sort of living, breathing character unto itself. Deledda’s place in literary history was forever secured in 1926 when she won the Nobel Prize for Literature, but few English speakers have had the opportunity to read her work. With that in mind, this freshly translated collection of short stories offers a rewarding introduction to the author’s style and themes, serving as an ideal starting point for anyone curious about this resonant voice in Italian-and world-literature. More importantly, thanks to Deledda’s storytelling talent, Chiaroscuro offers an entree into a distant time and place, a fascinating look at a simpler, more savage world that no longer exists but for echoes. It’s a literary journey sure to please.