With this novel, the first in a trilogy, she proves herself to be one of Italy’s great storytellers. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her protagonists, the unforgettable Elena and Lila.įerrante is the author of three previous works of critically acclaimed fiction: The Days of Abandonment, Troubling Love, and The Lost Daughter. They are likewise the embodiments of a nation undergoing momentous change. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Ferrante’s inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Cultural – Italty, TranslationĪ modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense, and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila.

My brilliant friend book review