Classics:
* The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio (1353): A collection of 100 stories told by a group of young people fleeing the plague.
* The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (1320): A masterpiece of Italian literature, divided into Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, exploring themes of sin, redemption, and the afterlife.
* The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (1840): A historical novel set in 17th-century Italy, depicting the lives of two lovers during a period of social upheaval.
* Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (1883): A beloved children's story about a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy.
20th Century and Beyond:
* The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1958): A historical novel set in Sicily during the Risorgimento, exploring themes of power, tradition, and change.
* The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (1980): A historical mystery novel set in a medieval monastery, involving a series of mysterious deaths.
* The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943): A classic children's story (written in French, but the author was Italian-born) that is considered a philosophical tale for all ages.
* The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (2006): A philosophical novel that explores themes of class, prejudice, and the power of art.
* My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011): The first book in a series of four, it is a coming-of-age story set in Naples, Italy.
Contemporary:
* The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante (2006): A psychological drama about a woman's past and present.
* The Italian Wife by Adriana Trigiani (2013): A heartwarming story about a young woman who travels from Italy to America to find her husband.
* Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman (2007): A coming-of-age story about a young man who falls in love with a graduate student staying at his family's home in Italy.
* The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré (2018): A moving story about a young Nigerian girl who fights for her education.
* The Eight Mountains by Paolo Cognetti (2016): A novel about the complex relationship between two men who grew up in the Italian Alps.
This is just a small selection of the many great books written by Italian authors. I recommend exploring these and other titles to discover the richness and diversity of Italian literature.