I drammi de' campi
Padre Don Giuseppe—La vendetta—Proprietari e fittaiuoli— Sequestro.
"I drammi de' campi" by Emilio Raga is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story unfolds in a rural Sicilian setting and explores themes such as morality, familial loyalty, and the social dynamics of village life. Central to the narrative is the character of Peppe, a mischievous boy, whose antics and early brushes with theft draw the attention of his grandfather, Saverio, and the local priest, Don Francesco, highlighting the struggle between his innate mischief and the expectations of honest behavior within his family. At the start of the tale, we are introduced to Peppe, who is often scolded by his strict grandfather Saverio while reflecting on his discontent with morality. Saverio's attempts to imbue Peppe with Christian values are met with rebelliousness from the boy, leading him down a path of theft, ultimately involving a series of petty crimes alongside his peers. As the opening chapters progress, the budding crisis centered around Peppe's misdeeds escalates after he is caught stealing pears, followed by more serious thefts with his friend Castrenze, revealing themes of temptation and the challenges faced by the older generation in guiding the youth. The narrative serves as a lens into the tensions between tradition and modernity in Sicilian village life.