''Colomba'' is a

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most novelettes and short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) ...

Prosper Mérimée Prosper Mérimée (; 28 September 1803 – 23 September 1870) was a French writer in the movement of Romanticism, one of the pioneers of the novella, a short novel or long short story. He was also a noted archaeologist and historian, an import ...

which first appeared on 1 July 1840 in the '' Revue des Deux Mondes''. It was published as a single volume in 1841 by Magen et Comon.

Plot summary

Through the lens of historical fiction, the novella examines the Corsican vendetta. In the story, Orso is forced to consider whether he should avenge the death of his father, apparently perpetrated by the Barricini family. An Englishwoman, Lydia Nevil, attempts to dissuade him from murder, while his sister, Colomba, uses all her cunning to ensure the opposite result.

Characters

*Brandolaccio "Brando" Savelli - a friendly Corsican outlaw *Brusco - Brando's dog *Colomba della Rebbia - the titular character and sister to Orso *Colonel Nevil - Lydia's father *Giudice Barricini - a barrister and head of the Barricini family *le Curé - a former theology student, now an outlaw *Lydia Nevil - an Englishwoman and romantic interest of Orso *Orlanduccio Barricini - son of Giudice Barricini *Orso della Rebbia - Colomba's brother *Vincentello Barricini - son of Giudice Barricini

Adaptations

The story has been adopted on a number of occasions for the screen: * '' Colomba'', a 1920 French silent film directed by Jean Hervé * '' Colomba'', a 1933 French film directed by Jacques Séverac * '' Colomba'', a 1948 French film directed by

Émile Couzinet Émile Cousinet, (12 November 1896 – 24 October 1964) was a French film producer and film director. Biography The son of a carpenter, Couzinet became a traveling projectionist and then director of the Royan Casino. In the 1920s, he deci ...

* '' Vendetta'', a 1950 American film directed by

Mel Ferrer Melchor Gastón FerrerAncestry Library Edition (August 25, 1917 – June 2, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer, active in film, theatre, and television. He achieved prominence on Broadway before scoring notable film hits with ...

* '' Colomba'', a 1982 French-Italian television series

References

{{Reflist Works by Prosper Mérimée 1840 short stories French short stories French novellas Novels set in Corsica