Ashes (Cenere): A Sardinian Story

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Deledda, Grazia, 1871-1936

Contributor:

Wylde, Katharine, 1854-1941

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Ashes (Cenere): A Sardinian Story" by Grazia Deledda is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story is set in Sardinia and explores themes of love, betrayal, and social constraints through the eyes of a young girl named Olì. At the heart of the narrative is Olì's passionate relationship with a farm-laborer named Anania, complicated by his deception regarding his marital status, leading to significant turmoil in her life. The opening of the novel introduces us to Olì on Midsummer Eve, as she collects flowers for a ritual to bind love. At just fifteen, she is depicted as a beautiful, exotic girl, caught in the thrill of young love with Anania, a charming yet dishonest young man. The narrative hints at the development of their secret and intense romance, which carries with it the weight of societal judgment and familial expectations. Olì's father, aware of the budding relationship, harshly warns her about Anania's true identity, foreshadowing the chaos that will ensue in Olì's life as she grapples with love, abandonment, and the yearning for a better future. The vivid descriptions of the Sardinian landscape and the tension between tradition and desire set a poignant tone for this tale of youthful passion and the harsh realities of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Laura Natal Rodrigues at Free Literature (Images generously made available by The Internet Archive.)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 84.2 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2020-12-05