The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

“The Story of a New Name” is the second novel in the “Neapolitan Quartet,” a series of four books written by Italian author Elena Ferrante. The quartet follows the lives of two women, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, as they grow up together in a poor neighborhood in Naples, Italy, from the 1950s to the present day.

In “The Story of a New Name,” we follow Elena and Lila into their adolescence and young adulthood as they continue to navigate the complex and often brutal world of their neighborhood. The novel explores themes of friendship, love, jealousy, power, and the struggle for self-determination.

Ferrante’s writing is known for its rawness, honesty, and vivid portrayal of the characters and their surroundings. The Neapolitan Quartet has been widely praised for its unflinching depiction of the lives of working-class women in post-war Italy, as well as for its exploration of larger social and political issues.

“The Story of a New Name” is a rich and immersive novel that continues the compelling story of Elena and Lila’s lives. It is a complex and multifaceted work that has resonated with readers around the world.