In Search of Elena Ferrante

Elena Ferrante—named one of the 100 most influential people in 2016 by Time magazine—is best known for her Neapolitan novels, which explore such themes as the complexity of female friendship; the joys and constraints of motherhood; the impact of changing mores between men and women; the pervasiveness of male violence; the struggle for upward mobility and the impact of the feminist movement. Ferrante’s three novellas encompass similar themes, including moments of extreme tension in women’s lives.

This study analyzes the integration of political themes and gender constraints in Ferrante’s works, including men’s entrapment in a sexist script written for them. Her decision to write under a pseudonym is examined, along with speculation that Rome-based translator Anita Raja and her husband are coauthors of Ferrante’s books.