Vita napoletana

Published shortly after Serao's "The Belly of Naples," the stories in "Neapolitan Life" effectively portray the places and habits of the plebs and lower middle classes, bathing them in a "warm southern glow." The alleys, streets, and buildings in these stories are authentic, as is the harshness of life for the men and women of Naples in 1885. Fava manages to lift the dust from their feelings—sometimes even their dreams—restoring dignity to the humble lives of each individual. The result is a vivid series of portraits, stories, and scenes of life that enrich, with unseen traits, a Naples we thought we knew. And yet, there still remains much to discover.