I’m delighted to announce that the University of Louisville awarded my unpublished story “Faces” runner-up for the 2023 Calvino Prize. Special thanks to UofL English and guest judge Aimee Bender for recognizing this work.
Italo Calvino is a hero of mine. His collection, Italian Folktales: Selected and Retold, was an inspiration to me as I wrote Giovanni’s Tree. I’ve recommended this book to anyone who will listen and many who won’t, but I’d like to take this opportunity to mention some other titles in the Italian short story category that have also influenced me.
My Top 5 Italiano Short Story Collections
- Those who enjoyed my collection might recognize the name Bruce McAllister. While he’ll never be well-known for writing the foreword to Giovanni’s Tree, he has earned plenty of other honors, including a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, and a nomination for the Shirley Jackson Award for his own collection of Italian stories, The Village Sang to the Sea.
- Frankly, anything and everything by Dino Buzzati is worth reading. He’s a brilliant writer with a truly unique imagination. Catastrophe and Other Stories is one of my favorites.
- Giuseppe Pitre’ (1841-1916) is a relatively unknown name even to many Italians, but his collection Caterina the Wise and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk & Fairy Tales is filled with entertaining tales originating from the Bella Isola.
- The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories edited by Jhumpa Lahiri. A book filled with some of the best Italian stories from the second half of the 20th century.
- The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. For anyone interested in the roots of Italian literature, there’s no better place to start than the 1300s. Boccaccio’s tales are lively, often bawdy, and culturally and historically significant.
Happy New Year and delightful reading to one and all.
May 2024 bring peace on Earth and mercy mild.
Nick DiChario 
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