Publisher's Synopsis
The Old Dragon, Il Drago, is a hidden gem of Italian storytelling. Written by celebrated Italian author Luigi Capuana, it is here made available for the first time in English translation.
The story, although fiction, is gritty in its realism. Yet it is also a subtle fairytale. Set in rural Sicily at the end of the nineteenth century, it is a world that Capuana knows well, for he comes from it. At the same time, he populates his story with fairytale creatures.
The central character is Don Paolo Drago, "dragon by name, dragon by nature" who is embittered by tragedies which, in the space of a few months, robbed him of his family and left him alone in the world. But everything is turned upside down when he meets two orphans on a village road and despite himself Don Paolo must come to terms with their entry into his life. As their adventures and turns of fortune unfold, we are thrust into the characters' small village world and Capuana's detailed canvas brings to life characters humorous, heart warming and tragic.
Although written as a story for older children, Capuana's portrayals make Il Drago thoroughly enjoyable for adults as well. Capuana was a prolific writer whose works translated into English include: Cardello, The Marquis of Roccaverdina and Sicilian Tales - Once Upon a Time.
