The Outcast

"So pleasant to read. . . . Masoni's translation contributes to the diffusion of one of the most prominent Italian writers. It is not only of great interest to scholars, but also to anglophone readers, who now have the chance to learn about a particular historical time and patriarchal society in Southern Italy."

“This new translation of Pirandello’s little-known early work sheds light on the repressive culture of traditional Sicilian village life, prefiguring themes that he would take up in his later fiction and drama. Masoni has done an excellent job in bringing to English-speaking readers this portrayal of a vanished world.”

“A story of forbidden love and humorous misunderstanding, The Outcast is innovative, playful, and intellectually challenging writing by one of Italy’s greatest modern authors. These traits shine in Masoni’s new and much-needed translation. He has captured the ambiguous uncertainties and charming difficulties of Pirandello’s first novel, making it available once again to an English-language audience both to study and enjoy.”

“Bradford Masoni’s masterful translation fills a significant gap in the reception of modern Italian literature in English. A crucial transitional work between realism and modernism, this story of a woman’s attempt to take control of her own social image remains powerfully relevant well over a century after its initial publication.”

"Accused of an affair she never committed, Marta Ajala battles against misogyny and malice to create an independent life for herself, her mother, and sister. Masoni's new translation of Pirandello's great work brilliantly captures the novel's unique blend of realism and modernism through to its paradoxical conclusion."

"Masoni's rendition of The Outcast is a much-needed contribution to the dissemination of Pirandello's œuvre in English. Beautifully translated, Masoni's work masterfully captures the linguistic complexity and cultural richness of Pirandello's writing style."