This outstanding selection of 12 short stories from the Italian verismo (realist) school features tales from the author's Vita dei campi (Rural Life) and Novelle rusticane (Rustic Stories) Selections include the celebrated "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Rustic Chivalry), "Nedda," "L'amante di Gramigna" (Gramigna's Mistress), "Reverie," "Jeli the Herdsman," "Nasty Redhead," and six others, plus an Introduction and notes.