The Nice Old Man and the Pretty Girl - Svevo

By Italo Svevo

"The Nice Old Man and the Pretty Girl" by Italo Svevo is a poignant and ironic short story that explores themes of aging, desire, illusion, and the disconnect between internal longing and external reality. The narrative follows an elderly man who becomes infatuated with a much younger woman, seeking to recapture a sense of vitality and purpose through her attention. As he immerses himself in this fantasy, the story reveals the quiet tragedy of self-deception and the often-painful gap between youth and old age.
Svevo, known for his psychological insight and understated prose, presents the old man's experience with both empathy and sharp critique. The story subtly critiques societal ideals of romance and vitality, showing how clinging to illusions can lead to emotional disillusionment.
Since its publication, the story has been recognized for its delicate balance of melancholy and irony. Its exploration of human vulnerability and the fear of irrelevance continues to resonate, offering readers a timeless meditation on the complexities of aging and the human need for connection and meaning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lebooks Editora
• Release date: May 28, 2025
• ISBN: 9786558949626

Book preview

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Italo Svevo

THE NICE OLD MAN AND THE PRETTY GIRL

Original Title:

"La novella del buon vecchio e della bella fanciulla"

First Edition

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

THE NICE OLD MAN AND THE PRETTY GIRL

INTRODUCTION

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Italo Svevo

1861–1928

Italo Svevo was an Italian writer and businessman, best known for his innovative and introspective literary style that anticipated many elements of modernist fiction. Born Ettore Schmitz in Trieste — then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire — Svevo wrote primarily in Italian and is widely regarded as a pivotal figure in the development of psychological narrative and introspective prose. Despite limited recognition during his early career, his later works, especially Zeno’s Conscience, earned him a lasting place in European literary history.

Early Life and Education

Italo Svevo was born into a middle-class Jewish family of German and Italian heritage. Raised in a multilingual environment, he was educated in both Italy and Germany, where he developed a deep appreciation for literature and philosophy. Svevo adopted his pseudonym (Italo to signify his Italian identity, Svevo to reflect his Germanic roots) early in his literary career. Although he worked for much of his life in his father-in-law’s paint business, his passion for writing persisted, even during long periods of literary obscurity.

Career and Contributions

Svevo’s literary breakthrough came late in life. His first two novels, Una Vita (1892) and Senilità (1898), received little public or critical attention. However, a turning point occurred when Svevo took English lessons from the young Irish writer James Joyce in Trieste. Joyce, recognizing Svevo’s talent, encouraged him to continue writing and helped promote his work within literary circles.

In 1923, Svevo published his most celebrated novel, La Coscienza di Zeno (Zeno’s Conscience), a groundbreaking exploration of self-deception, neurosis, and the complexity of the human psyche. Written in the form of a fictional memoir dictated to a psychoanalyst, the novel offers a satirical and deeply introspective account of the life of Zeno Cosini, a man plagued by indecision, contradictory desires, and existential anxiety. The novel challenged traditional narrative forms and incorporated elements of Freudian theory, marking Svevo as a forerunner of the psychological novel.

Impact and Legacy

Svevo’s work is now recognized as a crucial bridge between 19th-century realism and 20th-century modernism. His introspective style, ironic tone, and philosophical depth have influenced writers such as Italo Calvino, Primo Levi, and Samuel Beckett. Zeno’s Conscience, in particular, is praised for its complex narrative structure and its unflinching depiction of the human mind's contradictions.

Though Svevo remained relatively unknown during his early life, the growing interest in modernist literature after World War I led to the reevaluation and celebration of his work. His depiction of flawed, deeply human protagonists captured the fragmented identity and moral ambiguity that would come to define much of modern literature.

Italo Svevo died in 1928 following a car accident near Trieste. At the time of his death, he was only beginning to receive the literary recognition he deserved. Today, Svevo is considered one of the foundational figures of modern European literature. His legacy endures through his pioneering use of interior monologue, ironic introspection, and his exploration of psychological complexity.

Svevo’s influence extends beyond Italy, with Zeno’s Conscience often featured in discussions of modernist masterpieces alongside works by Kafka, Proust, and Joyce. His unique perspective — shaped by cultural duality, personal struggle, and philosophical inquiry — continues to resonate with readers seeking insight into the contradictions of the human condition.

About the work

The Nice Old Man and the Pretty Girl by Italo Svevo is a poignant and ironic short story that explores themes of aging, desire, illusion, and the disconnect between internal longing and external reality. The narrative follows an elderly man who becomes infatuated with a much younger woman, seeking to recapture a sense of vitality and purpose through her attention. As he immerses himself in this fantasy, the story reveals the quiet tragedy of self-deception and the often-painful gap between youth and old age.

Svevo, known for his psychological insight and understated prose, presents the old man's experience with both empathy and sharp critique. The story subtly critiques societal ideals of romance and vitality, showing how clinging to illusions can lead to emotional disillusionment.

Since its publication, the story has been recognized for its delicate balance of melancholy and irony. Its exploration of human vulnerability and the fear of irrelevance continues to resonate, offering readers a timeless meditation on the complexities of aging and the human need for connection and meaning.

THE NICE OLD MAN AND THE PRETTY GIRL

I

There a prelude to the adventure of the nice old man, but it developed almost without his being aware of it. During a short break in his work he had been obliged to see in his office an old woman who introduced him to a girl in whom she tried to interest him, her own daughter. They had been granted an interview because they brought a letter from a friend of his. Called off thus suddenly from his work, the old man could not get it altogether out of his mind. He looked in bewilderment at the note, trying to take it in and put an end to the interruption as soon as possible.

The elder woman did not cease talking for a moment, but he caught or understood only a few short sentences: The young woman was strong and intelligent, she could read and write, but she read better than she wrote. Then a sentence struck him, because it was so odd: My daughter will take any work for the whole day, provided she has the short time off she needs for her daily bath. Finally the old woman made the remark which brought the scene to a swift close: They are taking women as drivers and conductors on the trams now.

Quickly making up his mind, the old man wrote an introduction to the Manager of