My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend is a novel by Elena Ferrante that tells the story of a friendship that lasts a lifetime, set in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples in the 1950s. The book has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and has been praised by critics as a memorable portrait of two women and the story of a nation.

OVER 5 MILLION COPIES SOLD IN ENGLISH WORLDWIDE

OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD IN THE UK

14 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES

GUARDIAN 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY

58 WEEKS ON THE BOOKSELLER’S TOP 20 ORIGINAL FICTION BESTSELLERS LIST

SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2015

43 INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS DEALS

Now in B-format Paperback

From one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, comes this ravishing and generous-hearted novel about a friendship that lasts a lifetime. The story of Elena and Lila begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, as their friendship, beautifully and meticulously rendered, becomes a not always perfect shelter from hardship. Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but My Brilliant Friend is also the story of a nation. Through the lives of Elena and Lila, Ferrante gives her readers the story of a city and a country undergoing momentous change.

“Nothing quite like it has ever been published.” - Guardian

“Elena Ferrante has established herself as the foremost writer in Italy - and the world.” - The Sunday Times

“This is high stakes, subversive literature.” - The Telegraph