The Smell Of Hay

Structured as impressionistic vignettes rather than traditional plotlines, these stories are built from precise observations, quiet humor, and musical, restrained prose. The translation preserves the cadence and atmosphere of the original, and an insightful introduction by a contemporary British writer frames the work for modern readers. The edition also includes two pieces newly added to English, expanding the emotional range and historical texture.

Within the pages you’ll encounter a young man’s unrequited love, a strange disappearance, a faded hotel, a lonely funfair, and the sensory memory of hay at the gates of the Jewish Cemetery. Through spare, reflective narration, the collection pairs intimate moments with a broader sense of cultural memory, inviting contemplation of time, belonging, and loss.

• Short story collection with impressionistic, mood-driven snapshots
• Includes two pieces never published in English before
• Translation by Jamie McKendrick with an introduction by Ali Smith
• Vivid, precise imagery and a restrained, musical writing style
• Historical context: Jewish-Italian community in 1930s Ferrara
• Reader-friendly translation that rewards rereading and reflection

Readers finish with a deeper sense of place and history, a heightened appreciation for translation, and a calm, lingering impression that memories can be both intimate and expansive.