The Deposition (1879) by Luigi Capuana

A barber is brought in for questioning. What begins as a routine interrogation slowly unravels into a tense, layered confession in this 1879 classic Italian short story. Luigi Capuana, a master of Italian verismo literature, delivers a raw interrogation scene that feels strikingly modern. Often cited as an early influence on later mafia-themed films, "The Deposition" explores razor sharp psychology in a tight, dialogue-driven narrative.