The Front Yard, and Other Italian Stories

"The Front Yard, and Other Italian Stories" by Constance Fenimore Woolson is a compilation of short stories set in Italy during the late 1800s, diving into the lives of characters dealing with love, loss, and belonging. We meet Prudence Wilkin, a New England widow in Assisi, who dreams of creating a beautiful front yard away from the harsh realities of her life, as she provides for her family, including her difficult mother-in-law. Her desires for a perfect front yard mirrors her yearning for creating a home that is hers while living in a foreign land and dealing with the constant challenges of her new domestic world, setting the reader up for a series of emotional struggles as she sets out to achieve these ambitious dreams. The stories explore deep human relationships, cultural differences, and the lengths people go to for their loved ones.