SOURCE: "A Survey of Svevo," in Italian Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 10, Summer, 1959, pp. 25-28.

Below, Nelson discusses various themes in Svevo's short fiction, including "canine psychology" (from a dog's point of view), the old in love with the young, and death.

His reputation as a short story writer must rest chiefly on "La novella del buon vecchio e della bella fanciulla" and "Il mio ozio" (the latter translated as "This Indolence of Mine"). They have the advantages of being completed and excellent. On a slightly lower level of achievement we may place "Una burla riuscita" and "Proditoriamente." Among other fragments of fiction one should mention "Corto viaggio sentimentale," which begins splendidly as an account of the separation of a certain Signor Aghios from his wife as he is about to embark on a trivial journey; but it leads on, without concluding, to an absurd theft which would need at...