Pre-order

Little Novels of Sicily

Name: Little Novels of Sicily
Brand: Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand
SKU: 9781782697077
Price: 27.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Giovanni Verga

0.0 (0 reviews)

Brief Description

Drawn from the Sicily of Giovanni Verga's childhood — at the time, the poorest place in Europe — the stories in Little Novels of Sicily capture life's inimitably ironic blend of beauty and sorrow. A loudly lamenting widower enters negotiations for a new wife even before... Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$27⁹⁹

Pre-order

Releases 10^th November 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order "Little Novels of Sicily" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

Little Novels of Sicily

$27⁹⁹

AUTHOR SIGNING 26 Sep 2026

Jon Toogood visits Book Hero

We were so honoured to have Aotearoa's own royal rock legend Jon Toogood visit Book...

NEW HERO ALERT 25 Sep 2026

New Hero Alert! Meet Liam - our new Bookstore Hero

We’re thrilled to welcome Liam to the Book Hero team! You’ll find him in our...

LIZZY'S CORNER 25 Sep 2026

Celebrating Bird of the Year 2026 with Bird Books

Today I've got a couple of INCREDIBLE bird books as well as a reading list...

AMELIA'S CORNER 24 Sep 2026

Amelia's Favourite Puzzle Vibe: What Makes a Puzzle Cosy?

What makes a puzzle feel cosy? Amelia shares her favourite puzzle vibe, from bookshops and...

THE BOOK BRIEFING 24 Sep 2026

The Book Briefing: 23rd September

Another busy day in the reading world with new book announcements and reveals, events happening...

First published in 1883, this book by Verga poignantly re-creates the beautiful simplicity of Sicilian village life, painting the grim lives of fishermen and farmers with comic elements and evoking mystical pleasures of the landscape in which he was born.

Description

Drawn from the Sicily of Giovanni Verga's childhood — at the time, the poorest place in Europe — the stories in Little Novels of Sicily capture life's inimitably ironic blend of beauty and sorrow. A loudly lamenting widower enters negotiations for a new wife even before the grave is filled; a donkey driver finds the patronage of the king a mixed blessing; and successful revolutionaries discover that liberty is of short duration.

Full of twists in perspective and lyrically described landscapes, Verga's stories record the class struggles of Risorgimento Italy, the relationship between men and the land, and the cynical yet reassuring intimacy of life in a rural community. In deceptively simple, powerfully concentrated prose, Verga shifts between affection and dry detachment, but never turns his gaze away from life as it is really lived.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781782697077

Publisher: Pushkin Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pushkin Press Classics

Contributors:

Introduction by D.H. Lawrence
Translated by D.H. Lawrence

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 176

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Coming Soon in Fiction Fiction General Fiction Giovanni Verga Literary Fiction Pre-order Books Pre-order General Fiction Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date

About the Author

Giovanni Verga was born in Catania, Sicily, in 1840, and died in the same city in 1922. As a young man he left Sicily to work at literature and mingle with society in Florence and Milan, but eventually came back to spend his long declining years in his own place. He wrote in many genres and produced several classics of Italian literature, including the novel The House of the Medlar Tree. His short stories about Sicily are widely agreed to be his masterpieces.

More from General Fiction

View all

Lizzy's Pick

Yesteryear

A BOLD AND BITING SATIRE. WILL HAVE YOU GASPING TO THE FINAL PAGE — Nita Prose WICKEDLY FUNNY, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND FRIGHTENINGLY PERCEPTIVE — Abigail Dean INVENTIVE, ADDICTIVE, A WILD RIDE — Ashley Audrain SHOT THROUGH WITH HUMOUR AND LACED WITH DARKNESS — Clare Mackintosh The Stepford Wives meets The Handmaid's Tale — Hannah Deitch My name was Natalie Heller...

By Caro Claire Burke

Paperback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$36⁹⁹~~

(3)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
Dylan's Pick

Theo of Golden

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING PHENOMENON'For anything to be truly good, there must be love in it. Nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core.' One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…His name is Theo and he's arrived there by chance –...

By Allen Levi

Paperback

$28⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$34⁹⁹~~

(6)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
The Wedding People

'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people — but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...

By Alison Espach

Paperback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

(3)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set (5 books)

All five of the Court of Thorns and Roses paperbacks packaged together in a gorgeous box set. "Passionate, violent, sexy and daring." —USA TODAY on A Court of Thorns and Roses Feyre is a huntress. The skin of a wolf would bring enough gold to feed her sisters for a month. But the life of a magical creature comes at...

By Sarah J. Maas

Set

$99⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$124⁹⁵~~

(4)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Thorns and Roses

The first instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON and TikTok sensation, from multi-million selling and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas. Maas has established herself as a fantasy fiction titan – Time Harry Potter magic, Taylor Swift sass, Fifty Shades-level athleticism – The Sunday Times With bits of Buffy, Game of Thrones and Outlander, this is a glorious series...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$21⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

(2)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Mist and Fury

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas continues Feyre Archeron's epic journey in the world of the High Fae. Having survived the brutal trials under the Mountain, Feyre returns to the Spring Court. Though she now possesses the immortal powers of the High Fae, the traumatic experiences have left scars on her human heart. Haunted by the...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$21⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Wings and Ruin

The third instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From multi-million and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas. In A Court of Wings and Ruin, the gripping third book of the ACOTAR series, Feyre Archeron faces the ultimate battle for her world. Having returned to the Spring Court, she is determined to gather...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$21⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Frost and Starlight

In A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas, readers are invited to revisit the enchanting world of Prythian in a heartwarming and introspective narrative. Set against the backdrop of the Winter Solstice, Feyre Archeron and her mate Rhysand return to centre stage as they strive to restore the Night Court after the devastating conflicts of A Court...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$21⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
Limited Edition

A Court of Frost and Starlight - Night Court Edition

The magic and beauty of the Night Court is captured in these LIMITED EDITIONS of the Court of Thorns and Roses series! This Night Court Edition features the Night Court symbol on a striking black and silver foiled cover and includes black sprayed edges. An unmissable companion tale to the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$23⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
Limited Edition

A Court of Silver Flames - Night Court Edition

The magic and beauty of the Night Court is captured in these LIMITED EDITIONS of the Court of Thorns and Roses series! This Night Court Edition features the Night Court symbol on a striking black and silver foiled cover and includes black sprayed edges. The latest instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From multi-million...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$25⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
A Court of Silver Flames

The latest instalment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From multi-million and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas. Maas has established herself as a fantasy fiction titan - Time Think Game of Thrones meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a drizzle of E.L. James – Telegraph Spiced with slick plotting and atmospheric world-building...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$21⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁹⁹~~

(1)

In Stock
Ships tomorrow
Limited Edition

A Court of Wings and Ruin - Night Court Edition

The magic and beauty of the Night Court is captured in these LIMITED EDITIONS of the Court of Thorns and Roses series! This Night Court Edition features the Night Court symbol on a striking black and silver foiled cover and includes black sprayed edges. The third installment of the GLOBAL PHENOMENON, romantic fantasy epic and TikTok sensation, ACOTAR. From multi-million...

By Sarah J. Maas

Paperback

$24⁰⁰
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.