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Portrait of Giovanni Verga

Giovanni Verga books in order

Italian writer

Lived
1840–1922
Country
Italy
Books
9

Giovanni Verga published 5 novels, 2 novellas, 1 short story collection and 1 other book, beginning with Mastro Don Gesualdo (1881).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Giovanni Verga

Standalone novels in order

  1. Eva (1873)

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  2. The She-Wolf (1880)

    197 pages

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  3. I Malavoglia (1881)

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  4. Mastro Don Gesualdo (1881)

    329 pages★ 3.1 (7 ratings)

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  5. Little Novels of Sicily (1925)

    209 pages

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Novellas in order

  1. Red Evil Hair (Aug 1878)

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  2. Jeli the Shepherd (1880)

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Short story collections in order

  1. The Life of the Fields (1880)

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Other books in order

  1. La Lupa (1896)

    96 pages

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About Giovanni Verga

Giovanni Carmelo Verga di Fontanabianca was an Italian realist (verista) writer. His novels I Malavoglia (1881) and Mastro-don Gesualdo (1889) are widely recognized as masterpieces. Verga has been called the greatest Italian novelist after Manzoni. D. H. Lawrence translated several of his works into English.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Giovanni Verga FAQ

How many books has Giovanni Verga written?
Giovanni Verga published 5 novels, 2 novellas, 1 short story collection and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Giovanni Verga's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Mastro Don Gesualdo.
What is Giovanni Verga's last book?
Mastro Don Gesualdo (1881).
What is Giovanni Verga's most famous book?
Mastro Don Gesualdo (1881) is Giovanni Verga's most widely read book.
Can I read Giovanni Verga's books for free?
Yes. 2 books by Giovanni Verga are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.

Authors like Giovanni Verga

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.