Jhumpa Lahiri has been one of the most celebrated writers in the English language since her 1999 debut, Interpreter of Maladies. After moving to Italy in 2012 she’s continued to write fresh and inventive fiction in Italian as well. Roman Stories is a collection of short fiction that was originally published in Italian and translated with the help of Todd Portnowitz — the collection feels decidedly Italian in its sparse style, but Lahiri brings a compelling emotional core all her own.
The collection is comprised of nine stories, populated by narrators living in Rome who are searching for belonging — whether it be cultural, emotional, romantic, or something deeper. Many of the stories center on the experiences of non-natives, whether they be refugees or expats, who experience isolation in their community. This theme of painful cultural exclusion is perhaps most evident in the story “Well-Lit House,” in which the narrator is a refugee who is able to get housing in the city with his wife and children — but their dream turns into a nightmare when hateful neighbors hurling slurs drive his family to flee and leave him houseless. The story unfolds with a sincerity and emotional clarity that feels uncommon, and the sparse prose magnifies the emotion in brilliant ways.
In one of the collection’s lengthier stories, “The Steps”, Lahiri encapsulates seven different perspectives of those living around a set of ancient steps in the middle of the city — perfectly capturing how a cramped city location is home to such disparate realities, even on the minute scale. The story, like the rest of the collection, speaks to the generations of inhabitants that have created a palimpsest of cultural identity in Rome and beyond. Each individual has different beliefs on who truly belongs and who is trespassing in their reality, creating a fascinating polyphonic exploration of cultural diaspora.
Roman Stories is a magnificent testament to Lahiri’s abiding interest in pushing the boundaries of language and form, especially when it comes to otherness and identity. The collection feels like a cohesive narrative, with pared back and graceful prose that feels reminiscent of Elena Ferrante, with a strong thematic thread to carry the reader between narratives. I enjoyed Lahiri’s most recent novel Whereabouts more than the average reader, but audiences will be happy to see Lahiri return to the short fiction form, where her powers as a storyteller and formal innovator are on display most prominently.