Background
He was born May 28, 1839, in Mineo, Sicily. His family was well to do and young Capuana was able to exercise his talents to the full. His life was one of varied activities.He is best remembered as a proponent of Verismo, of which he was a more articulate and less faithful disciple than his friend Verga, and as the author of Il Marchese di Roccaverdina (1901), a well-constructed and competent novel of the naturalist school, and a number of good short stories. Of his critical works Studi sulla letteratura contemporanea (first edition, Milan, 1879; second edition, Catania, 1882) best exemplifies his easy style and sound judgment.