As a result, the family becomes indebted to the usurers Goosefoot and Crucifix Dumbbell.
This novel was labeled a "clear glass, which falsifies and distorts nothing" in William Dean Howells's introduction to its first English edition, which also said that "I cannot promise that it will interest" certain readers. The donkey-driver Alfio Mosca pines for one of the females in this story, but remains unfulfilled, though Alessio achieves some measure of success at the end of the novel. Lia and Mena are warned to keep their brother from falling in with smugglers, but the brother ultimately stabs Don Michele, who has earlier predicted Bastianazzo's death in a storm. The central figures support themselves by fishing from their boat Provvidenza until bad times force them to take out a loan for buying a wholesale lot of black beans, against the wishes of La Longa. As a result, the family becomes indebted to the usurers Goosefoot and Crucifix Dumbbell. Taking place in the (*) Sicilian town of Trezza, where Padron Ntoni attempts to reverse the disintegration of his family, for 10 points, name this novel by Giovanni Verga about the poor consequences of mortgaging the titular domicile.
This novel was labeled a "clear glass, which falsifies and distorts nothing" in William Dean Howells's introduction to its first English edition, which also said that "I cannot promise that it will interest" certain readers.
The {House} by the {Medlar Tree} [or The {Malavoglia}; or I {Malavoglia}]