Order of the books in the trilogy «Two friends» by Elena Ferrante

The saga "Two friends" of Elena Ferrante It is a tetralogy that narrates the intense and complex friendship between Elena Greco (Lenù) and Raffaella Cerullo (Lilac). From his childhood in a humble neighborhood of Naples to his adult life.

Through its pages, Ferrante explores themes such as identity, motherhood, class struggle and the search for personal fulfillment in a constantly changing social and political context.

The series has received international acclaim for its psychological depth and his vivid portrait of 20th-century Neapolitan society.

1. The great friend (2011)

In this first volume, we meet Lenù and Lila during their childhood and adolescence in the 1950s. The novel describes their environment in a poor neighborhood of Naples, their school and family experiences, and the beginning of a friendship marked by competition and mutual admiration.

Ferrante introduces readers to a world where cunning and Intelligence is essential to survive, laying the foundation for a relationship that will evolve over the decades.

2. A bad name (2012)

The story continues with the protagonists in their youth. Lila, newly married, faces the disappointments of an oppressive marriage. While Lenù continues with her studies and begins to experience the world outside her hometown.

Elena Ferrante in this book delves into the decisions each one makes and how these affect their relationship, exploring issues of identity and autonomy in a restrictive social context.

3. The debts of the body (2013)

In this third installment, the lives of Lenù and Lila take divergent paths. Lila works in difficult conditions in a factory, while Lenù has published a novel and is navigating the intellectual world.

Despite their differences, their lives remain intertwined, and The novel addresses the internal and external struggles they face when trying to define their own identities in a patriarchal society.

4. The lost girl (2014)

At the end of the tetralogy, both women are adults and have taken different paths. Lenù has left Naples to become a successful writer, while Lila has succeeded in the local business arena.

However, personal events take them back to their home neighborhood, where they must confront their pasts and the nature of their friendship. This volume offers a powerful conclusion to the saga, reflecting the personal and social transformations they have experienced.

The series “Two Friends” is not only an intimate portrait of a female friendship, but also a chronicle of the social and cultural transformations in Italy in the second half of the 20th century.

The depth of the characters and the richness of the historical context make this tetralogy a must-read for those seeking to understand the complexities of human relationships and the impact of the environment on the formation of personal identity.