Colomba is a short story

Short story

A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...

 by Prosper Mérimée

Prosper Mérimée

Prosper Mérimée was a French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and short story writer. He is perhaps best known for his novella Carmen, which became the basis of Bizet's opera Carmen.-Life:...

 which first appeared on the 1st of July, 1840 in the Revue des Deux Mondes

Revue des deux mondes

The Revue des deux Mondes is a French language monthly literary and cultural affairs magazine that has been published in Paris since 1829....

, and was first 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, purportedly 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

The characters in the novel include:

• 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 Barrcini - son of Giudice Barricini
• Orso della Rebbia - Colomba's brother
• Vincentello Barricini - son of Giudice Barricini