Italian Stories

A Dual-Language Book

Robert A. Hall

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9780486120300
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Italian Language
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Designed for the language student as well as the lover of fine literature, this convenient dual-language book features eleven great short stories — each one appearing in the original Italian, with vivid and accurate English translations on facing pages.
Robert A. Hall, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Italian, Cornell University, has compiled a stimulating and representative collection ranging from a 14th-century selection from Boccaccio's The Decameron to Alberto Moravia's `Competition,` a 20th-century view of lower-and middle-class Italian life. Among the other works are Machiavelli's `Belfagor; Story of the Devil Who Took a Wife,` Matteo Bandello's reflections of 16th-century morals in `Madonna Zilia,` Giovanni Verga's objective portrayal of lower-class Sicilian life in `Rosso Malpelo,` Gabriele d'Annunzio's revelations of a depraved peasantry in `The Idolaters,` Luigi Pirandello's fascinating study of hypocritical social attitudes in `The Tight Frock Coat,` as well as equally significant works by Antonio Fogazzaro, Renato Fucini, Aldo Palazzeschi, and Corrado Alvaro.
Arranged chronologically so that the growth of the literary art may be followed, as well as enjoyed, each story is prefaced by a concise biographical/critical introduction. Also included are linguistic and cultural notes, a valuable Italian-English vocabulary, study questions on each story, and an informative essay on Italian fiction.

Students of the Italian language will find the dual-language format timesaving and extremely helpful; readers of Italian literature will want to add this treasury of small masterworks to their personal libraries.

VOCABULARY

This is not a complete vocabulary, but a listing of the more unusual or more difficult words which would probably not be known after one year of Italian.

Stress is indicated wherever it does not fall on the next-to-the-last syllable. The grave accent (`) is used except for the closed e and o vowels, which are marked with the acute (´).

abbellire to embellish

abbigliamento m. garment

abbonacciare to calm down

abbondévole abundant

abbrancare to grasp, seize

abbrutire to brutalize

accadèmia f. concert

accalcarsi to crowd

accanimento m. fury

accecare to blind

accennare to make a sign

accetta f. hatchet, axe

acchiappare to seize, grab

accidènte m. mishap

acciò che in order that

accógliere to receive

accollatàrio m. contractor

accomodare to fix up

accomodato suitable

accomodatura f. repair

acconciare to fix up, take care of, make comfortable

accòrgersi (di) to perceive

accostarsi to go up close

acquistare to acquire

acquisto m. acquisition

addirittura downright

ad(d)ivenire to happen

addossarsi to lean against

adempiere to fulfill

àdipe f. fat

adrièto back

adunque then

affacciare to show (as at a window)

affannato out of breath

affanno m. trouble, worry

affaticarsi to strive

afferrare to grasp, seize

affestellare to festoon

affocante suffocating

affollato crowded

affondare to bury

affrettare to hurry

agghiacciante chilling

aggirarsi to turn

aggrappato clinging

agguantare to grasp, seize

agiatamente at one’s ease

agio m. ease

aguzzo pointed

àire m. flight

aita f. aid, help

albèrgo m. hotel, hostel, dwelling, home

allacciamento m. linking up

allampanato emaciated, gaunt

all’analda after the fashion of Hainault (hemmed up?)

allièva f. pupil

alloggiare to lodge

allontanarsi to go away

almanco at least

altressì in the same way, likewise

ambascia f. shortness of breath

ambo both

ambulante walking, wandering

ammazzare to kill

ammiccare t...