Short Stories and Novellas

This page contains an index of all prose works by Giuseppe Bonaccorso that have been released free of charge. It includes short stories, novellas, and fiction books.

  If you need a specific short story, you can always search for it.

A man of letters. An artist while writing a novel or some short stories.
Portrait of the writer J. Giraudoux (E. Vuillard)

Italian All short stories and novellas have been written originally in Italian.

Short Stories and Novellas

Job

Enter the mind of Job, a suffering but stubborn man. It is an intriguing and profound tale about the search for the essence of life.

Weaning

Unveil the rough elements of a young boy’s journey to receiving the sacrament of first confession and the concept of weaning.

Widowhood Exercises

Uncover a tale of deception and heartbreak in this captivating story of a husband’s disappearance and a wife’s unspoken secrets.

The Old Commander

Learn the story of the elderly military man, forced to rest but determined not to give up — an engaging narrative about ambition and resilience.

The Preacher

Learn about the preacher’s short story and haunting death — a compelling tale of sin, redemption, and curses.

Drops in the Sea

An existential short story about love and loneliness. To what extent can one feel loved? Is it possible to stop being alone?

The Letter to the Mirror

It is a surrealist short story inspired by the psychological conditions of multiple personalities and the involuntary splitting in their relationship with reality.

A train ride

A story based on coincidences, life’s expectations, and the illusion that we can control the reality that often overwhelms us.

Cardboard Magnates

Explore the complex story of a homeless man in Rome from a firsthand account and perspective. Learn his struggles and how to remain grounded in reality.

The pact

Michele Borgia searches for a place to intone an invocation one winter night. Follow him in his story and experience the most disturbing encounter with him!

Contemporary Comedy

How does a person deal with the disorder and the processing of grief? Learn from Fausto Marinelli’s experience in this existential long story by Giuseppe Bonaccorso. (Part IPart IIPart IIIPart IVPart VPart VIPart VII)

Woman’s body

Discover the touching story of a girl in crisis as she relives her nightmare in an emergency room. It is a verist tale that combines psychology and stark reality.


Stylistic-literary considerations

When it comes to storytelling, the length and structure of a literary work play a crucial role in defining its genre. Short stories and novellas are two distinct formats that offer unique reading experiences. Although both fall under the fiction category, they differ in length, plot complexity, and character development.

A short story is a compact narrative that generally focuses on a single event or a concise sequence of events. It is characterized by its brevity, often ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand words. Because of its limited length, a short story aims to convey a specific theme or emotion with precision and impact. The plot is often simple, with minimal subplots or secondary characters. This format requires concise writing and compelling storytelling, leaving readers with a concise, self-contained narrative.

On the other hand, a novella is longer than a short story but shorter than an entire novel. It allows for more complex plots and the exploration of more themes. Novellas usually range from 20,000 to 50,000 words, giving authors more room to develop characters, subplots, and settings. The added length allows for a deeper exploration of story themes and a fuller portrayal of the characters’ motivations and relationships. Despite its extended scope, a novella retains a sense of concision and focus.

Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron in a painting by Sandro Botticelli. Decameron is one of the first and most important collections of short stories and novellas
Giovanni Boccaccio‘s Decameron in a painting by Sandro Botticelli

Although short stories and novellas aim to engage readers through storytelling, their different lengths and structures result in distinct reading experiences. A short story captivates readers with its brevity, often leaving room for interpretation and inviting reflection. It offers a glimpse into a particular moment or situation, leaving readers to ponder the implications. In contrast, a novella presents a more immersive experience, allowing readers to delve deeper into the narrative and develop a stronger connection with the characters and their journeys.

In summary, the main difference between a short story and a novella lies in their length and the level of complexity they offer. A short story is concise and focused, while a novella allows for a broader narrative. Whether one prefers the condensed impact of a short story or the deeper exploration of a novella, both formats continue to enchant readers with their unique qualities and ability to transport them to different worlds.


If you like my stories, you can always donate to support my activity! One coffee is enough!


Share this post on:
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail