In the Margins. On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing

A delightful collection of original essays by Elena Ferrante as she reflects on the “adventure of writing”—her own and others’.

“Ferrante fans will open this slim new book with eagerness.”

“Ferrante can’t help but arouse intrigue and admiration.”

“The author of the Neapolitan quartet and the Pulitzer prize-winning novelist discuss identity, ambition, truth – and the ‘convulsive’ urge to write.”

“In the Margins makes the seemingly arcane problems of the writer feel immediate and vivid. Reading it is a pleasure.”

“In this slim volume of four essays, Elena Ferrante explores her art and influences. In the Margins illuminates the themes that characterise her novels: intense female friendships, mother-daughter relationships and betrayal….. If there’s any lingering doubt about Ferrante’s gender, this homage to female talent, impeccably translated by Ann Goldstein, suggests otherwise.”

"Ferrante reflects on style, her literary influences, the “arduous journey” of women in literature and details the struggles she’s faced as a fiction writer in this crisp essay collection."

  

“A rare peek behind the curtain of the creative process of one of our most elusive authors….it is nothing short of a thrill to have light shed on her magic.”

"A fascinating line flows directly into her novels from her contentions that women have historically been seen as excessive and that their words "get lost in the wind".

“At some point, reading Ferrante’s novels, the fictional universe and that inside your head seem to melt into each other. Such is the power, and truth, of her writing. In the Margins shines a little light on where, exactly, it all came from — but not too brightly. The mystery, you feel, should endure; the deeper meaning should remain opaque and oblique.”

“Ferrante reflects on style, her literary influences, the ‘arduous journey’ of women in literature and details the struggles she’s faced as a fiction writer in this crisp essay collection.” 

"A fascinating peek into Ferrante’s process, one that opens up intellectual rabbit holes and as many new questions as it answers."

“The author explores the truth behind women’s writing.”

“Ranging from philosophical to practical, the essays give the reader an insight into the enigmatic author''s mind, and include an exploration of what a writer is.”

"In the Margins is the culmination of [Ferrante''s] thought and of decades of narrative enterprise.”

“In the Margins is nothing if not a meditation on learning how to use freedom within the constraints of form….those fascinated with the struggles and joys of creation might find in it quite a few treasures.”

“Highlighting the power of the written word, this is a deeply captivating, insightful and immersive collection, providing a fascinating account into Ferrante’s writing life; the perfect influence-in-waiting for anyone who shares a passion for both reading and writing.”

“You don''t need to have read the Italian author''s blockbuster Neapolitan novels to enjoy this, her third foray into non-fiction.”

“Elena Ferrante has established herself as the foremost writer in Italy - and the world.” THE SUNDAY TIMES

A delightful collection of original essays on reading and writing.

From the internationally acclaimed author of My Brilliant Friend, The Lying Life of Adults, and The Lost Daughter, come four revelatory pieces offering rare insight into the author’s formation as a writer and life as a reader. Ferrante warns us of the perils of “bad language”—historically alien to the truth of women—and advocates for a collective fusion of female talent as she brilliantly discourses on the work of her most beloved authors.  A delightful collection of essays exploring reading and writing from the internationally acclaimed author of My Brilliant Friend and The Lying Life of Adults. 

Ferrante’s writing has been described as compulsive (The Times) and astonishing (Guardian), her novels have sold millions and been translated into many languages as well as adapted for TV internationally.

• | Author: Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein
• | Publisher: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd
• | Publication Date: Mar 17, 2022
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language: eng
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781787704169
• | ISBN-10: 1787704165