Verga, Giovanni (1840–1922)

Italian novelist. He realistically described the life of Sicilian peasants and fisherfolk in such works as La vita dei campi/Life in the Fields 1880, I Malavoglia/The House by the Medlar Tree 1881, and Mastro Don Gesualdo/ 1889. His short story ‘Cavalleria rusticana/Rustic Chivalry’ 1884, which he rewrote as a play, was adapted as the libretto for Pietro Mascagni's opera 1890 of the same name.

Several of his works were translated into English by D H Lawrence, including Cavalleria rusticana and other Stories 1928.