Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend (MLI3199)

15 credits

In this module you will explore the work of Elena Ferrante, widely regarded as Italy’s greatest contemporary novelist. My Brilliant Friend (2011), The Story of a New Name (2012), Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (2013) and The Story of the Lost Child (2014) describe the lives of two friends (Lila and Lenuccia, both born in a Neapolitan neighbourhood) from the 1950s until the beginning of the 21st century. Clearly and elegantly written, these novels speak of individual ambitions, fears, dreams, success and disappointments, intelligently highlighting achievements and problems of contemporary Italy. No knowledge of Italian is required for students taking this through modularity, although students of Italian are required to read the novels in their original version.