My brilliant friend is the first book in italian writer elena ferrantes worldacclaimed quartet of neapolitan novels, which documents the friendship between elena greco and lila cerullo. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is. Much as ferrantes neapolitan novels have become a publishing juggernaut, it is impossible not to read the saga of two best friends fitful journeys through. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions new york. The neapolitan novels are published by europa editions. My brilliant friend, translated by ann goldstein, is stunning. She is the author of the days of abandonment europa, 2005, troubling love europa, 2007, and the lost daughter europa, 2009.
How the stars of hbos my brilliant friend were chosen from 9,000 children to portray elena greco and lila cerullo, two of the most beloved characters in modern literature. My brilliant friend has officially been confirmed for a second season. Hbos my brilliant friend is gorgeous and savage the. He was told ferrante had put his name forward for the tv adaptation of the books, and he had got the job. It is the first in a series, and i confess that when i started reading it, i did not intend to continue with them i was just going to read this first one to see what all the fuss over ferrante was about. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. My brilliant friend opens with 60something elena answering a panicked latenight call. The book is beautifully written but also a page turner and easy read. But costanzo and cianchettis work gives this adaptation of my brilliant friend much of its ache, because he captures it all, beautiful and heartbreaking elements alike, with such delicacy. Oct 19, 2011 my brilliant friend is the story of two childhood friends, elena and lila. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to this penetrating portrait of two marvelous women.
My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. Book 2 of the neapolitan novels, the story of a new name, picks up in the aftermath of lilas wedding to stefano. Oct 11, 2012 my brilliant friend the neapolitan quartet book one a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila. Lila and elena clash, drift apart, reconcile, and clash again, in the process revealing new. My brilliant friend finale recap, season 1, episode 8. When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, elena greco, a nowelderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing. Nov 14, 2018 hbos new series my brilliant friend, based on the wildly popular neapolitan novels of elena ferrante, is a different but no smaller challenge. A new york times bestsellerthe neapolitan novels book 1a modern masterpice from one of italys most acclaimed authors set against the backdrop of a naples that is as seductive as it is perilous and a world undergoing epochal change, this story of a lifelong friendship is told with unmatched honesty. My brilliant friend the story of a new name features margherita mazzucco as elena and gaia girace as lila, and is based on the second book of elena ferrantes bestselling quadrilogy. Can you imagine what it must be like to take the souls of others. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena ferrante, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The quartet, known as the neapolitan novels, follows two girls growing up in naples.
Aug 27, 2019 my brilliant friend followed elena lenu. Nov 19, 2018 on sunday, hbo debuted the eightpart miniseries my brilliant friend, based on the first book in the neapolitan novels and made with the participation of its elusive author. Ferrantes evocation of the workingclass district of naples where elena and lila first meet as two wiry eightyear. Check out the full article featured in the new york times. When the most important friend in her life seems to disappear without trace, elena greco, an elderly woman living in a house crammed with books, switches on her pc and starts writing her own story, and that of lila. Set in a dangerous but fascinating naples, it is just the start of a story spanning sixty years of life. Ferrante returns, once more, to the theme of motherdaughter relationship in my brilliant friend. My brilliant friend season 2 release date, spoilers and. When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, elena greco, a nowelderly woman immersed in a house full of books. Discover elena ferrantes original novel from our online shop. Soon to be an hbo series, book one in the new york times bestselling neapolitan quartet about two friends growing up in postwar italy is a rich, intense, and generoushearted family epic by italys most beloved and acclaimed writer, elena ferrante, one of the great novelists of our time. Sep 02, 2018 hbos italianlanguage adaptation of elena ferrantes my beautiful friend gets off to a promising twohour start thanks to lovely production design and natural performances by elisa del genio. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions.
Why hbos beautiful my brilliant friend is in italian, with. My brilliant friend season 2 air date, plot, cast and. My brilliant friend edit the neapolitan novels begin in 2010 when the son of an old friend telephones the main character, a woman in her 60s named elena familiarly called lenu. The neapolitan novels, book 1 audible audio edition. Named after the first of four novels in the neapolitan novels series by elena ferrante, it is set to adapt the entire literary work over four seasons of eight episodes. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book club discussion. Hbo released a teaser for its upcoming lineup of shows confirming my brilliant friend, newly subtitled the story of a new name after the title of. My brilliant friend 2012, the story of a new name 20, those who leave and those who stay 2014, and the story of the lost child 2015. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense and generous hearted story about two friends, elena and lila. Elenas childhood friend lila a nickname for raffaella has disappeared, and her son is unable to find her. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante, ann goldstein waterstones. This authentic take on the first neapolitan novel is the most honest and vivid.
Well be recapping each episode of my brilliant friend. Nov 26, 2018 currently airing on hbo, miniseries my brilliant friend is based on a book series from writer elena ferrante. Narrated in first person from elenas perspective, the novel opens. My brilliant friend, a new original series directed by saverio costanzo and based on the global bestselling novel by elena ferrante, comes to hbo this. Watch my brilliant friend season 1 online hbo official site. Can director saverio costanzo and a cast of nonprofessional actors do justice to ferrantes radical vision of. On sunday, hbo debuted the eightpart miniseries my brilliant friend, based on the first book in the neapolitan novels and made with the participation of its elusive author.
This authentic take on the first neapolitan novel is the most honest and vivid portrait of. Why hbos beautiful my brilliant friend is in italian, with subtitles. Book summary from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila, set in a vibrant and colorful modernday naples. My brilliant friend official trailer hd hbo drama series. For two years, the pseudonymous literary sensation corresponded regularly with the director adapting my brilliant friend for hbo. My brilliant friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo and the. She is strikingly beautiful and magnetically charismatic, even from a young age, but she is also manipulative and willful. Author elena ferrantes my brilliant friend book series is regarded with similar reverence, around the world but. The hbo show is inspired by a beautiful italian novel of the sam name currently airing on hbo, miniseries my brilliant friend is. Hbos adaptation of elena ferrantes neapolitan novels is returning for a second chapter. What are the abiding characteristics of this relationship.
When the most important person in her life goes missing without a trace, lenu greco, now a celebrated author, begins to. As lilas wedding approaches, the differences between her and elena unite the two friends in silent understanding. Hbo miniseries adaptation of elena ferrante book lives up to its name. Ferrantes 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 friend. The question and answer section for my brilliant friend is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. My brilliant friend, a new original series directed by saverio costanzo and. My brilliant friends first season ends in as beautiful.
Why hbos beautiful my brilliant friend is in italian. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila, who represent the story of a nation and the nature of friendship. Lamica geniale is an italian and neapolitan language comingofage drama television series created by saverio costanzo for hbo, rai and timvision. A recap of the season finale of hbos my brilliant friend, season one. But elena and lila dont merely read the book together. Named as one of times 100 most influential people in 2016, italian author elena ferrante is the pseudonym of the author behind some of the most powerful and acclaimed novels of recent times. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book of the year. I havent read elena ferrantes neapolitan novels, the bestselling, heavily acclaimed quartet of books that form the basis for hbos new my brilliant friend. Nov 17, 2018 the first in ferrantes neapolitan quartet, my brilliant friend is a breathless, breathtaking love story but not between a hero and heroine. My brilliant friend the neapolitan quartet book one a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila. This recap is written by someone who has read and loved the original books, but there will be no spoilers for future plot points. Every purchase supports the work of the national theatre. My brilliant friend is based on a book, but is it a true.
A lot of people are like the grown up lila isnt beautiful. Nov 16, 2018 why hbos beautiful my brilliant friend is in italian, with subtitles. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. My brilliant friend, by elena ferrante, and more the. Heres what we know so far about my brilliant friends season 2. Neapolitan novels, book one ferrante, elena, goldstein, ann on. But the resulting show is a testament to her elusiveness. The four volumes known as the neapolitan quartet my brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child were published in america by europa between 2012 and 2015. Ferrantes 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. The official website for my brilliant friend on hbo, featuring full episodes online, interviews, schedule information and episode guides. My brilliant friend official website for the hbo series. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante, ann goldstein. Her neapolitan novels include my brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the foruth and final book in the series, the story of the lost child.
The great coup of my brilliant friend, both the book and the show, is in turning lilas gaia girace wedding into a tragedy. Buy a discounted paperback of my brilliant friend online from australias. Buy my brilliant friend by elena ferrante, ann goldstein from waterstones today. A tale that attempts to unveil the mystery of lila, elenas brilliant friend. Who do you feel suffers the most mother or daughter. My brilliant friend is based on a book, but is it a true story. This maintains the structure of ferrantes books and also, thankfully, its italian language, when one. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a.
She tells the tale of their friendship, which started at school in the 1950s. Elena greco, known to all as the porters daughter in. The occasion takes up nearly half of season 1s finale, the. He is the author of jumping at the moon, a book of short stories equal runnerup in the prestigious steele rudd award and eight novels, including the volcano, which won the queensland premiers l venero armanno, the son of sicilian migrants, was born in brisbane. The first book in the series has also been adapted into an hbo television series entitled my brilliant friend. The four volumes known as the neapolitan quartet my brilliant friend, the story of a. She is bestknown for her internationally bestselling neapolitan quartet my brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. Heres everything we know so far including air date, plot and cast.
In one of the loveliest sequences in elena ferrantes novel my brilliant friend, two girls read little women. This strange turn of events prompts elena to begin writing the history of her relationship with lila, beginning with their childhood in naples, italy, in the 1950s. The fact is, as beautiful as the scene in the show is, it never captures and. Though i am undeniably envious of ferrantes beautiful skill with words, i have to.
The sweet linearity of my brilliant friend the new yorker. A journey in search of beauty carlo piano, renzo piano. My brilliant friend summary the novel opens with elena greco learning that her longtime friend lila cerrullo also known as raffaella and lina has vanished without a trace. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. Booktopia has my brilliant friend, the neapolitan novels. My brilliant friend season 2 release date, spoilers and cast news. The first in ferrantes neapolitan quartet, my brilliant friend is a.