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Details
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781787702226
Publisher: Europa Editions
Age Range: Adult
Overview
My Brilliant Friend is the first novel in Elena Ferrante's internationally acclaimed Neapolitan Quartet, translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein. Set in 1950s Naples, it introduces childhood friends Elena and Lila as they navigate poverty, ambition, and rivalry in a working-class neighbourhood. Named one of the New York Times' Best Books of the Century, it is a searing, unforgettable portrait of female friendship, class, and coming of age in post-war Italy.
About the Book
My Brilliant Friend opens in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples, where two young girls, Elena Greco and Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo, form an intense, complicated friendship that will shape the rest of their lives. As children, Lila's fierce intelligence and defiance make her the more dazzling of the pair, while Elena watches, studies, and quietly competes to keep pace. Together they navigate a neighbourhood ruled by violence, poverty, and old grudges, where a good marriage or a rare scholarship can mean the difference between escape and a life trapped in the same streets as their parents. Ferrante traces their journey from childhood games through the turbulence of adolescence, as schooling pulls the girls apart, family expectations close in, and the wider forces of a changing Italy begin to reshape the neighbourhood around them. Told through Elena's recollections as an adult looking back, the novel is as much a story of one friendship as it is a portrait of a city, a class, and a country in the throes of transformation. Ferrante's prose is unflinching and deeply psychological, capturing jealousy, loyalty, ambition, and love with a rare emotional precision. This first volume lays the foundation for the Neapolitan Quartet, a series that has been translated into dozens of languages and adapted into a celebrated HBO television drama.
- First volume in the bestselling Neapolitan Quartet
- Translated by acclaimed translator Ann Goldstein
- Named a Best Book of the Century by the New York Times
- Rich, immersive portrait of post-war Naples and Italian society
- Perfect for book clubs, literary fiction fans, and Ferrante newcomers
- Brand new paperback, ideal for gifting or personal collections
About the Author
Elena Ferrante is the pseudonymous author of several acclaimed novels, including The Days of Abandonment, Troubling Love, and The Lost Daughter. Her Neapolitan Quartet, beginning with My Brilliant Friend, has become an international phenomenon, translated into over forty languages and adapted for television by HBO. Ferrante was named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2016, and her work has been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize. Despite her global acclaim, Ferrante has chosen to remain anonymous, letting her writing speak for itself.
Why You'll Love This Paperback
A gripping, character-driven opening to one of the most celebrated literary series of the century. Perfect for readers who love immersive storytelling, complex female friendships, and richly evoked historical settings.
Please Note: Cover shown is the UK edition with UK ISBN 9781787702226. Actual cover may vary slightly by print run.
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