I initially heard of L’amica geniale from a friend who’d read the English translation. Largely before Ferrante became a household name in Italy, the translations of her books gained fame abroad. My dad and uncle also found the series and loved it.įinally, the Neapolitan novels’ unique trajectory to fame yet again offers a parallel with the city they represent – a tendency to do things spectacularly and differently. When the TV rendition L’amica geniale came out, he urged me to watch new episodes with him at the moment of release (despite it being difficult for me, nine months pregnant, to stay up late). During Covid quarantine, I watched my husband dive headfirst into the series. On the subway, I started to notice men reading the Neapolitan novels. Just like my experience with Naples itself, Ferrante’s books proved that stereotypes are often wrong. Since the Neapolitan novels’ main characters are female, I assumed the books would mainly appeal to a female audience. If you let the brutto knock you down before you can soak in the bello, you will miss out on experiencing a truly amazing place. Everything there hits hard and comes fast. No matter who you are, Naples will immerse you in its realities and contradictions – both the bello and the brutto. Instead, what you’ll find in Naples is complete authenticity. Naples is not a place that caters to tourists or tries to make people feel good all the time. It’s true that it’s no Florence, no Capri. It turned out that my friends were wrong about Naples. Interestingly, none of them had ever visited. When I was preparing for my first trip there, many of my friends told me it was too dangerous and not worth going. At the same time, it is dirty, dilapidated, chaotic, hard to navigate, and can be eerie and unsafe.Īs demonstrated through Elena’s experience, Naples suffers from a poor reputation in the rest of Italy. Naples has a rich and varied history, fabulous food, breathtaking views, and a lively and beautiful culture. I am fortunate to be able to visit Naples fairly often, and it never ceases to amaze me.
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