Little Novels of Italy

"Little Novels of Italy" by Maurice Hewlett is a captivating collection of short stories that carries readers to Italy, painting vivid pictures of characters tangled in the web of life, love, and societal norms. The book begins by introducing Giovanna Scarpa, a stunning young woman from Verona, whose modest upbringing as a washerwoman makes her journey to find love and marriage more difficult because of societal expectations and economic problems. Giovanna, or Vanna, is weighed down by her family's money problems and her father's easygoing attitude which prevents her from improving their situation. Although she is beautiful and good, this particular story shows how not having money set aside for marriage makes her less attractive to potential husbands. As Vanna goes about her life, she catches the eye of Baldassare Dardicozzo, an older businessman who is fascinated but confused by her charm, and thinks about marrying her, even though they are very different in age. The story unfolds into a drama that is both funny and thought-provoking, about love, sacrifice, and the conflict between what people want and what their families and society expect of them.