Stendhal wrote many chronicles, allegedly based on old manuscripts, about the passionate life in Italy. Among these are the ones published in this anthology: *The Cenci (Les Cenci) - The trial of an Italian family accused of murdering their abusive father. *Vittoria Accoramboni or The Duchess of Palliano (Vittoria Accoramboni / La Duchesse de Palliano) - The life of an Italian lady famous for her great beauty and accomplishments and for her untimely end. *The Abbess of Castro (L'Abbesse de Castro, 1832) - The unfortunate love of Giulio Bracciano and Elena de Campireali, an aristocartic woman. *Vanina Vanini - Vanina Vanini, the daughter of a Roman aristocrat, falls in love with the wounded Pietro Missirilli, a member of the revolutionary Carbonari organized in the fashion of Freemasonry, ans decides to betray him so he can devote himself entirely to her.