Italian Tales

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of sunny Italy, where the fates of heroes are determined not by strength, but by the kindness of the heart, resourcefulness, and faith in miracles. This book contains twelve tales by Luigi Capuana (1839–1915) — an Italian writer who breathed new life into ancient folklore narratives. It is a world where curses turn princesses into weightless feathers, kings into deafening thunder; where a magical frying pan cooks lunch on its own, and ordinary people battle fierce witches, man-eaters, and treacherous villains.
Translated by Maria Andreeva under the editorship of Maxim Gorky. The text is complemented by black-and-white illustrations by Konstantin Spassky, Enrico Mazzanti, and Eugenio Checconi.