Over 5 million copies sold worldwide in English, over 1 million copies in the United Kingdom, and 14 million copies globally. Now a major TV series and featured in the Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century, it spent 58 weeks on the booksellers' original fiction bestseller list and was nominated for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2015, with 43 international rights deals.

Now available in B-format paperback, by one of Italy's most esteemed authors, this captivating and generous novel tells the story of a friendship that lasts a lifetime. The tale of Elena and Lila begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets, the two girls learn to rely on each other before they can depend on anything or anyone else, as their friendship, beautifully and carefully depicted, becomes an imperfect shield against adversity. Ferrante has created an unforgettable portrait of two women, yet My Brilliant Friend is also the story of a nation. Through the lives of Elena and Lila, Ferrante offers her readers the story of a city and a country in transition.

"Nothing comparable has ever been published." - Guardian
"Elena Ferrante has established herself as the most significant writer in Italy - and the world." - The Sunday Times
"This is high-risk, subversive literature." - The Telegraph.