num_pages: 192
description: West of Rome's two novellas, "My Dog Stupid" and "The Orgy," fulfill the promise of their rousing titles. The latter novella opens with virtuoso description: "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 cliff-hugging town in the Abruzzi. Lean as a spider, he wore a leather cap and puttees the year around, and he was so bowlegged a dog could lope between his knees without touching them."
language: English
title: West of Rome
titlecomplete: West of Rome
genres: 20th Century, American, Americana, Short Stories, Novels, Literature, Classics, The United States Of America, Fiction, Humor
ratings_count: 2128
publisher: Ecco