Neapolitan Novels

The Neapolitan Novels are a four-part series by the Italian author Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein and published by Europa Editions (New York). They include the following novels: My Brilliant Friend (2012), The Story of a New Name (2013), Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (2014), and The Story of the Lost Child (2015). The series has been characterized as a coming-of-age story.

In an interview for the Harper's Magazine, Elena Ferrante stated that she considers the four books to be "a single novel", published serially for reasons of length and duration. The series has sold over 10 million copies in 40 countries. 

These amazing reads are a saga about female friendship set against a background of a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples in the 1950s and winds its way through the lives of the characters. 

It tells the story of a sixty–year friendship between the brilliant and bookish Elena Greco (our narrator) and the fiery rebellious Lila Cerullo with unmatched honesty and brilliance. Having read one; you will want to read them all. The central themes in the novels include women's friendship and the shaping of women’s lives by their social milieu. Also jealousy and competition within female friendships and the changing conditions of women in the 70s. 

These four novels are stunningly funny, heartfelt, and sizzling with female anger. My Brilliant Friend is also a TV series. These novels describe Naples and the books leave you with a desire to visit this city. 

Access eBooks/eAudiobooks on your phone, tablet or reader. Once you have installed the app, search for Dublin in the ‘Library’ field provided and then sign in using your library membership card number and PIN. Watch our how to video on Borrowbox. Members of other library authorities will need to log in using a different link. 

Submitted by Geraldine in Drumcondra Library.