May 2024

A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense, and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena (Lenu) and Lila. The story takes us into a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples in the 1950s, into the violence of abuse, power and poverty. The girls rely on each other as a shelter from these hardships and their friendship goes on to bear many secrets and scars and a deep understanding. Elena and Lila have very different personalities; at school Elena is diligent and is encouraged by her teacher to study hard and escape…