Mind Games

by Luigi Capuana

Capuana ranks high among Italian storytellers. -- Saturday Review

In this collection of short stories, Luigi Capuana focuses on the psychology of his characters and their inner worlds. They are often comical or absurd, yet always act in accordance with the iron logic of their manias, flaws and quirks. These emotional thrillers explore the always fascinating — and sometimes dangerous — territory of our inner realities. The line between sanity and insanity may be thinner than we would like to think.

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes unsettling, you'll be thinking about Mind Games and its stories of ordinary people in incredible situations long after you have turned the final page.

A prolific writer, Luigi Capuana is one of the giants of Italian literature, publishing six novels and many more volumes of short stories, plays, essays and other works during his lifetime. Mind Games (originally published in 1902 as Delitto Ideale), is well-known in Europe but this edition marks its first appearance in English.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2018

About the author

Luigi Capuana was an Italian author and journalist and one of the most important members of the Verist movement. He was a contemporary of Giovanni Verga, both having been born in the province of Catania within a year of each other. He was also one of the first authors influenced by the works of Émile Zola, French author and creator of Naturalism.

Reviews

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind Games: A Collection of Emotional Thrillers
By: Luigi Capuana
Publisher: Kazabo Publishing
Release Date: January 10, 2018
Length: 168 pages
Triggers: Mental instability, hallucination, premonition, psychological suspense
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🧠 Reality? Illusion? Prepare to Lose Track

Mind Games is a haunting, cerebral thrill ride through 14 short stories that blur the lines between the rational and the surreal. Originally published in 1902 under the title Delitto Ideale, this newly translated collection from Luigi Capuana delivers everything a psychological thriller lover could want—eeriness, introspection, and twists that mess with your head.

Each story drops you into ordinary lives with extraordinary, often chilling turns. From artists obsessing over perfection to women sensing storms of fate before they arrive, Mr. Capuana's tales blend realism with something far stranger. There's a reason this book comes with a warning—it lingers long after you've finished it, poking at your subconscious like a half-remembered dream that might have been real.

Though written over a century ago, the stories still feel oddly modern, tackling timeless themes like obsession, intuition, and the fragile nature of perception.

Perfect For:
📖 Fans of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, or Poe-style narratives
📖 Readers who enjoy character-driven, cerebral fiction
📖 Anyone looking to dip into unsettling, emotionally-charged short stories with historical flair

[Frank Schofield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading the English Translation of this book. First published in 1902 as Delitto Ideale. Mind Games a collection of short stories that take place in Italy It is truly a wonderful journey through the crossroads and emotions that all of us go through during our lives. Mr. Capuana takes several looks at how we choose and decide the fate of our decisions and creates vivid short stories that seem like complete novel. Through the collection of 14 stories one travels the countryside of Italy and the streets of Rome while the numerous letters i.e. chapters take us on every emotion possible. From Love to Hate and perception and back again.

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Italian literature so I was very happy to see this book in English. Luigi Capuana is a really important early 20th century Italian writer and this very weird, very modern collection of short stories doesn't disappoint.

These stories are all about the psychology of the characters and they are in turn, funny, though-provoking and creepy. I really enjoyed this book. Even if you aren't into Italian literature, it's an excellent read.