Giacinta: an Italian book for beginners (A1)
Luigi Capuana · adapted by Alessio Insegnante · CEFR level A1
Luigi Capuana's classic (1879), rewritten for learners of Italian at level A1: calibrated sentences, footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions in every chapter.
Ebook free with Kindle Unlimited · $4.99 · also in 6×9 paperback
The plot of Giacinta
Giacinta carries a childhood wound that society will not forgive. As a grown woman she decides to defy convention: she marries a man she does not love and keeps her heart for another, seeking a freedom her time will not allow.
Considered the first verista novel in Italian literature, Giacinta caused a scandal on publication for its clear-eyed, unjudging psychological portrait of a heroine who pays the full price of her choices.
Why read Giacinta to learn Italian
An adult, psychological story for readers who don't want fairy tales, even at A1. The vocabulary of feelings and relationships returns naturally chapter after chapter, settling into memory without effort.
Inside this reader
CEFR adaptation
The text is fully rewritten for level A1, with controlled vocabulary and syntax, while staying faithful to the original plot.
Footnotes and glossary
Footnotes on difficult words and a final glossary, so you can read independently without a dictionary.
Comprehension questions
Every chapter ends with questions to check understanding, just like in class.
Paperback and ebook
6×9 paperback on cream paper, or Kindle ebook. The same text also lives in the ti app.
Language focus: what you practise
In this level-A1 edition you mainly practise the present tense, the passato prossimo, basic articles and prepositions, short coordinated sentences. The vocabulary revolves around feelings, family and society: the key words, with translations, are in the glossary below and recur throughout the text, so you learn them in context.
Essential glossary (Italian · English · Dutch)
| Italian | English | Dutch |
|---|---|---|
| la ferita | wound | de wond |
| il matrimonio | marriage | het huwelijk |
| la società | society | de samenleving |
| lo scandalo | scandal | het schandaal |
| l'amante | lover | de minnaar |
| l'infanzia | childhood | de jeugd |
| la vergogna | shame | de schaamte |
| la scelta | choice | de keuze |
About the author: Luigi Capuana
Luigi Capuana (1839–1915), a Sicilian like his friend Verga, was the theorist of verismo: critic, storyteller and tireless experimenter. He dedicated Giacinta to Émile Zola, master of French naturalism.
Details and difficulty level
A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course. Format: 6×9 paperback on cream paper or Kindle ebook; 10 chapters with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions. All level A1 books →
Frequently asked questions
What level of Italian do I need to read Giacinta?
This edition of Giacinta is rewritten for CEFR level A1. A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course.
Is this Luigi Capuana's original text?
No, it is an adaptation: the plot and spirit of Luigi Capuana's original remain, but vocabulary and syntax are rewritten for level A1, with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions at the end of every chapter.
Which formats is it available in?
Paperback (6×9, cream paper) and Kindle ebook on Amazon. The ebook is free to read with Kindle Unlimited. The same text also lives in the ti app, with vocabulary translated into 14 languages.
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Keep learning with thuisitaliaans
Giacinta also lives inside the ti app, with tap-to-translate vocabulary in 14 languages and animated scenes. On the site you'll also find 700+ free Italian exercises and the blog for Italian learners.
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