Since its initial publication in 2011, My Brilliant Friend finally reached top place in the New York Times bestseller list in 2024. Since then, the first novel of the Neapolitan Quartet has begun trending on social media with BookTok fans recently discovering it.
Ten years after the publication of the last novel in the My Brilliant Friend series, Europa Editions launched a new edition of the whole series compiled into one book. From female friendships to the importance of education, the series tackles universal themes through the story of Lila and Lenù. The latter tells the tale of her life and her friendship with Lila. The raw honesty and realism of the series are two of its most attractive aspects. Readers cannot help but embrace it.
A thirst for reality is not why most people read fiction; readers typically buy novels to escape it. Yet, the rising fame of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels proves that not every reader wants to avoid reality. The novels present an uncomfortable and unusual realism with regards to friendship, motherhood, and even violence. But they are trending even more than when they were first published.
My Brilliant Friend: Summary
In a neighborhood of Naples after World War II, two girls, Elena (Lenù) and Raffaella (Lila or Lina), live right across from each other. The two girls go to school and work in a poor area of the city. At school, they both exhibit a strong disposition toward academic subjects; however, their families’ poverty overshadows their talent. It even forces Lila to give up on education after elementary school. Her father in particular pressures her to lend a hand at the family’s shoe repair shop.
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The novel is not only about the friendship between Lila and Lenù; it is the story of a time and place in which education is secondary. Lenù is lucky enough to be able to attend school while working as much as she can on the side.
Conversely, Lila’s parents do not encourage her to pursue her education. In spite of this, her passion for learning never dies. She is exceedingly clever, and everybody around her knows it. It is devastating to witness how the people who are meant to love Lila the most undermine her brilliance.
The Brutal Honesty Of The Narrator: An Overview
Lenù discusses her friendship with Lila in brutally honest, almost glacial tones. They are friends, but sometimes they are jealous of each other or behave in strange ways. The crucial moment that seals their friendship occurs when they are playing with rag dolls, and it happens toward the beginning of the first novel. Lila throws the doll through a grid, and it ends up in Donato’s house. Donato is known to be a crazy neighbor. Lenù follows her friend and does the same thing, which solidifies foundation of their friendship.
The characters are subjected to extreme violence in their childhood that endures throughout their later years and has a lasting effect on them. From the encounter with Donato, who threatens them and later abuses Lenù, the girls contend with a harsh reality. Shouting, beating, and so much more ensues in the neighborhood. Yet, no one does anything about it, because it is normalized. In fact, Lila seems to look for it, which is something Lenù doesn’t understand.
Why the Fame?
In conversations about Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend or L’amica Geniale (the original title) immediately come up. This is likely because the New York Times placed it as the best book of the 21st century.
The magic and cruelty of Ferrante’s world enthralls most readers. By dissecting a small corner of a neighborhood in the heart of post-WWII Naples, the main protagonist tells her story and that of her friend. Lenù opens up about her darkest feelings and thoughts without any guilt.
@aroomofones0wn Reading without academic stress is such a blessing! #booktok #elenaferrante #neapolitannovels #mybrilliantfriend #books #bookrecs #fyp #summer ♬ later – usnhdbdhshhd82837737
This series also exposes the contrasts and contradictions of a land that is both loved and hated. In fact, Ella Carr in Stories of Southern Italy expresses a fundamental truth about the city. Naples, just like other Southern cities, has “the unutterable beauty of its landscape sitting side by side with its legacy of violence and suffering.” This aspect of the city is depicted in an almost innocent way because the narrator is a child.
More About The Author (Or Lack Thereof)
It might come as a surprise, but Elena Ferrante is a pen name. Even though the author is considered one of the best writers of the century, no one really knows who she is. This mystery might have enhanced the novel’s popularity. If you’d like to hear more, watch the video below.
@kate_in_the_unreal_world A question of privacy, fame, and an author who desevered better. #elenaferrante #neopolitanquartet #mybrilliantfriend ♬ original sound – Kate
The main person associated with the books is the English translator Ann Goldstein. She has been interviewed by a multitude of magazines. Because of the international popularity of the novels, the translator has become nearly as important as the writer. In an interview with Melinda Harvey, the translator said:
“I’m only the creator of that world in language.”
Translated literature is a critical source of connection across cultures and languages. It is true that some aspects can be lost in translation. For instance, the dialectal words used by Ferrante are translated into English. As a Neapolitan myself, I found this choice rather unfortunate, as there is so much in the dialect that can’t be translated. However, the words are usually accompanied by the Italian translation anyway.
More About The Publisher
Funnily enough, the publisher of the series, Europa Editions, is the same publisher that printed the original Italian version.
The publisher posts comments and reviews on their website, which reveal that influencers and celebrities enjoy the novel as well. For instance, Hillary Clinton remarked that “it’s just hypnotic.” Even Natalie Portman opened up about her love for the novel, praising “Ferrante’s brutally honest writing,” as the following video shows.
TV Show & Films
Other books by Elena Ferrante have been adapted to the big screen, such as The Lying Life of Adults (2022) and even The Lost Daughter (2021). The last season of My Brilliant Friend came out in 2024. The whole TV show has an impressive IMDb rating of 8.6/10. Below is an image from the trailer of the first season of the TV show.
In an age where fantasy and imaginary worlds occupy most book shelves, turning to My Brilliant Friend will be an eye-opening experience. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend that you do as soon as possible.
