The Story of the St. Joseph's Ass is a short story by Giovanni Verga about a poor man named Nanni who owns an ass that he uses to transport goods for his living. One day, while transporting a load of hay, the ass falls ill and dies on the road. Nanni is devastated and blames himself for not taking better care of the animal. He decides to bury the ass in a nearby field, but when he returns home, he finds that his wife has sold all their possessions to pay off debts. The story ends with Nanni reflecting on how his life has been ruined by the loss of his beloved ass.
By Giovanni Verga · First published 1870 · Genre: Realism, Social Commentary, Tragedy