From Boccaccio to Buzzati: A Journey Through Italy’s Short Stories

Written By Olga Sylvia

Explore Italy’s rich storytelling tradition through its short stories—from Boccaccio’s Decameron to Buzzati’s surreal tales. Perfect for learners and lovers of Italian language and culture.

There is a certain magic in sitting down with a short story. Unlike the commitment of a novel, a short story allows you to step briefly—but deeply—into another world. It doesn’t demand hours of your time, yet it leaves a lasting impression. And when those stories come from Italy, a country whose very name evokes art, passion, and history, they offer something even more special: a window into the rhythms of Italian life, thought, humor, and humanity.

Italy is a land of storytellers. From the earliest oral traditions to today’s modern literary voices, Italians have always had a knack for capturing the human condition with charm, irony, and emotion. These tales don’t just entertain; they preserve dialects, reflect societal values, and document transformations across time. In a way, Italian short stories are miniature time machines: some transport us to plague-ridden Florence, others to postwar kitchens in Turin, or to surreal office buildings in Milan.

For learners of Italian, short stories are golden. They are manageable in length but rich in vocabulary and cultural nuance. They show how real Italians speak, think, and feel. They let you absorb grammar in context, making rules stick far better than textbook drills ever could. But beyond language, these stories let you feel Italy—its contradictions, its tenderness, its bite, and its eternal beauty.

Whether you're curled up with Calvino on a rainy day, laughing along with Boccaccio’s cheeky characters, or contemplating Buzzati’s philosophical riddles, you are participating in something timeless. You are entering a dialogue that stretches across centuries, connecting past to present, author to reader, and Italy to the world.

In this article, we’ll trace the arc of Italy’s short story tradition—from medieval morality tales to modernist masterpieces. We'll introduce you to literary giants whose brief but brilliant works have helped shape Italian literature and continue to influence readers and writers around the globe. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an advanced speaker of Italian, this journey through short stories will give you not just tools to learn, but reasons to fall in love with the language all over again.

Let’s begin our journey where so many Italian literary journeys begin: with storytelling as survival, as expression, and as art. Let’s travel from Boccaccio to Buzzati, one unforgettable page at a time.

1. Giovanni Boccaccio: The Birth of the Italian Short Story

The Decameron

Written in the 14th century, Boccaccio’s Decameron is often considered the origin of the Italian short story. Set during the Black Death, the book features 100 tales told by a group of young Florentines who retreat to a countryside villa. Their stories span romance, trickery, social commentary, and moral lessons.

But beyond its historical importance, the Decameron is a celebration of storytelling itself. The characters use narrative to escape the horrors of the plague, creating a world within a world where imagination heals. Each story is self-contained, yet contributes to a broader commentary on human resilience, desire, hypocrisy, and wit. Boccaccio's vivid characters—clever merchants, mischievous friars, lovestruck nobles—speak in voices that still feel modern and alive.

Why it matters:

  • It laid the groundwork for modern storytelling.

  • It captures medieval Italian life and values with surprising humor and clarity.

  • It uses accessible, colloquial language ideal for advanced learners.

Suggested Stories to Start With:

  • "Federigo’s Falcon"

  • "Andreuccio da Perugia"

  • "Alibech and Rustico"

  • "Griselda" (a tale of patience and endurance later adapted by Chaucer)

2. Luigi Pirandello: Identity, Irony, and Psychological Complexity

Novelle per un anno (Short Stories for a Year)

Pirandello, best known for his groundbreaking plays like Six Characters in Search of an Author, wrote over 200 short stories that blend irony, existential anxiety, and social critique. His Novelle per un anno collection was designed as a story-a-day anthology, aiming to accompany the reader throughout the year with intellectual and emotional stimulation.

Pirandello’s characters are often ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary psychological situations. Through deceptively simple language, he probes questions of identity, self-perception, and truth. In many stories, what begins as a slice-of-life tale quickly takes a surreal or unsettling turn, forcing readers to reconsider what is real and what is performance.

Why it matters:

  • Pirandello bridges classical and modern Italian literature.

  • He challenges the reader to think critically about truth, self, and societal masks.

  • His stories often reflect Sicily’s unique culture and tensions.

Suggested Stories to Start With:

  • "La patente" (The License) – a biting satire of bureaucracy and prejudice

  • "Il treno ha fischiato" (The Train Whistled) – a haunting tale of psychological awakening

  • "La giara" (The Oil Jar) – comic and tragic in equal measure

  • "Ciaula scopre la luna" (Ciaula Discovers the Moon) – lyrical and profound

3. Italo Calvino: Fantastical Logic and Literary Playfulness

Marcovaldo, Cosmicomics, and Difficult Loves

Calvino is Italy’s literary chameleon. His short stories span magical realism, science fiction, and philosophical fantasy. From the urban fables of Marcovaldo to the cosmic imagination of Cosmicomics, his work is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Calvino was also a master of style and structure. His stories often use paradoxes, puzzles, and mathematical elegance to explore themes of love, distance, perception, and absurdity. Yet they never lose their human touch. His humor and empathy make even the most surreal stories relatable.

Why it matters:

  • His language is modern and clear, ideal for upper-intermediate learners.

  • He combines philosophical ideas with humor and whimsy, bridging art and science.

  • He explores post-war Italian urban life with warmth and wit.

Suggested Stories to Start With:

  • "The Adventure of a Soldier" (from Difficult Loves) – sensual and emotionally charged

  • "The Distance of the Moon" (from Cosmicomics) – poetic science fiction

  • Any chapter from Marcovaldo – a seasonal journey through a dreamer’s eyes in a concrete jungle

  • "A King Listens" – meditative, tense, and stylistically daring

4. Natalia Ginzburg: Everyday Life with Emotional Depth

The Little Virtues, Family Sayings

Natalia Ginzburg carved out her space in a male-dominated literary world by focusing on the quiet drama of domestic life. Her short essays and stories blend autobiography, reflection, and cultural commentary, often exploring family dynamics, post-war recovery, and the role of women.

Ginzburg writes with an economy of words that somehow makes her stories feel expansive. Her prose is crystal clear, deceptively simple, and deeply affecting. She captures the unspoken undercurrents of conversations, the sadness in routines, and the strength of memory. For learners, her work offers linguistic clarity without sacrificing literary richness.

Why it matters:

  • Offers a female perspective in a male-dominated tradition.

  • Her prose is simple but emotionally nuanced—perfect for learners.

  • She documents the emotional climate of 20th-century Italian life.

Suggested Stories to Start With:

  • "He and I" – a poignant reflection on gender roles in relationships

  • "The Son of Man" – a meditation on memory and loss

  • "My Vocation" – an exploration of ambition, failure, and self-image

  • "Human Relationships" – understated and piercing

5. Dino Buzzati: Surrealism Meets Existential Anxiety

The Seven Messengers, The Falling Girl, The Colomber

Buzzati was a journalist, painter, and writer whose stories are eerie, dreamlike, and oddly prophetic. He fused realism with fantasy, often portraying characters who are trapped—in time, in bureaucracy, in their own fears.

His work is often described as Kafkaesque, but Buzzati’s voice is distinctly Italian. He blends Catholic symbolism, Alpine isolation, and wartime disillusionment into tales that are as beautiful as they are unsettling. His use of suspense and metaphor makes each story feel like a philosophical fable.

Why it matters:

  • Explores themes like time, isolation, and fear of the unknown.

  • Rich in metaphor and allegory—great for advanced learners and classroom discussion.

  • Captures the spirit of 20th-century Italy in transition.

Suggested Stories to Start With:

  • "The Falling Girl" – a haunting allegory of youth and aging

  • "The Colomber" – suspenseful and symbol-laden

  • "Seven Floors" – chillingly bureaucratic with existential overtones

  • "The Bewildered Reporter" – absurdity and modern alienation

6. Contemporary Voices to Watch

While this article focuses on the canonical giants, Italy continues to produce remarkable short story writers who explore contemporary issues with boldness and insight.

These modern authors often navigate themes like immigration, economic precarity, LGBTQ+ identity, and shifting family dynamics. Their stories mirror the realities of modern Italy, offering new ways to understand both language and culture.

Some names to explore:

  • Niccolò Ammaniti (Fango) – gritty, raw, and youth-centered

  • Giuseppe Pontiggia – elegant prose with philosophical depth

  • Dacia Maraini – feminist and socially conscious

  • Simonetta Agnello Hornby – blending Sicilian tradition with modern issues

  • Francesca Marciano – internationally acclaimed for her nuanced storytelling

For learners, contemporary stories offer a mirror to current language usage, slang, and the evolving fabric of Italian society.

Why Read Short Stories in Italian?

  • 📄 Manageable Length: You can read and re-read a story in one sitting, making it easy to build a regular reading habit without the pressure of long chapters.

  • 🌐 Cultural Insight: Every story reveals something unique about Italian customs, values, and humor. From regional expressions to social hierarchies, you'll gain authentic cultural knowledge.

  • 🚀 Boosts Vocabulary Fast: Recurring themes and conversational language help reinforce useful words and expressions. Many authors also showcase regionalisms and idiomatic phrases.

  • 🧬 Great for Discussion: Short stories work brilliantly for language classrooms, reading groups, or one-on-one tutoring. They prompt deep conversations on meaning, intention, and tone.

Short stories allow you to taste the richness of Italian life—without needing to dedicate weeks to a single novel. They're like espressos: concentrated, energizing, and distinctly Italian.

Tips for Language Learners

  • Start with bilingual editions so you can reference English when needed.

  • Read aloud to improve pronunciation and internalize Italian sentence rhythm.

  • Highlight unknown vocabulary, and keep a journal with recurring expressions.

  • Use audiobooks or YouTube readings to pair listening with visual understanding.

  • Choose authors whose tone and themes resonate with you—pleasure fosters consistency.

  • If you're a beginner, start with simplified texts or excerpts from Boccaccio or Ginzburg.

FAQs

Q: Are these stories suitable for beginners?

A: Some are, especially those by Ginzburg and selected tales from Boccaccio. More abstract or philosophical works (like those by Buzzati or Calvino) are better for intermediate to advanced learners.

Q: Where can I find these stories?

A: Many are available online for free, particularly classic works in the public domain. Libraries, bookstores, and apps like Audible or Scribd often carry bilingual or annotated versions. Look for Italian language learning platforms that include literary readings.

Q: Should I read in Italian or English?

A: Ideally both! Start in English for comprehension, then reread in Italian. Bilingual texts or side-by-side translations are especially helpful. Even if you read mostly in English, you're still gaining cultural context.

Q: How can I use these in my language classes?

A: Teachers can assign one story per week or month and use it for vocabulary drills, role play, grammar points, or essay prompts. Students can also practice summarizing stories, giving opinions, or reenacting scenes.

Q: Are there adaptations for film or theater?

A: Yes! Many stories by Pirandello and Boccaccio have been adapted for stage and screen. Watching adaptations can help reinforce understanding and add visual context.

Study Italian Literature with Us

At Polyglottist Language Academy, we believe learning a language is not just about grammar or vocabulary—it's about culture, feeling, and expression. Whether you're joining us in-person in Berkeley or learning online from anywhere in the world—you’ll experience Italian not as a subject, but as a living language.

🖋️ Ready to dive into Italian through literature?

Sign up for our Italian classes today and start your journey through the pages of Italy's most iconic storytellers.

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Olga Sylvia
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