This handsome hardcover caught my eye at the local Used Book Superstore. Turns out it's a collection of works by the author of Fosca (which inspired the Sondheim musical Passion).

The introduction provides a lot of information about Tarchetti, who apparently borrowed other authors' works, sometimes just for an idea or a tone but in some cases to the point of blatant plagiarism. [This book includes a couple of stories that Tarchetti based his own works on, so the reader can compare them.] He seems to have been a fascinating, if somewhat tragic, figure.

The stories themselves each have handsome illustrations up front, and touch on some unsual themes, such as the baron who finds himself sharing his body with the spirit of a young girl - a situation that gives him mixed emotions, to say the least. Among them: "A Dead Man's Bone" brings a lighter touch to the tale of a ghost seeking the restoration of his kneecap; and "The Letter U (A Madman's Manuscript)", in which the narrator tries to explain his horror of that particular vowel.

There are also a couple of stories by other authors, which influenced or were influenced by Tarchetti, and a brief biographical sketch of Tarchetti by Salvatore Farina.

I left this book on a chair near the bakery inside Valentino's Market at about 3:30 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released for the 2012 Spook-tacular Halloween release challenge, for the ghostly shadow on the cover. ***

*** Released for the 2012 You're Such an Animal" release challenge, for the embedded "ant" in the title. ***