West of Rome

West of Rome's two novellas, "e;My Dog Stupid"e; and "e;The Orgy,"e; fulfill the promise of their rousing titles. The latter novella opens with virtuoso description: "e;His name was Frank Gagliano, and he did not believe in God. He was that most singular and startling craftsman of the building trade-a left-handed bricklayer. Like my father, Frank came from Torcella Peligna, a c...