The Story of a New Name (The Neapolitan Quartet Book 2)

The Neapolitan Quartet Book Two

A novel in the bestselling quartet about two very different women and their complex friendship: “Everyone should read anything with Ferrante’s name on it” (The Boston Globe).

The follow-up to My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name continues the epic New York Times–bestselling literary quartet that has inspired an HBO series, and returns us to the world of Lila & Elena, who grew up together in post-WWII Naples, Italy.

In The Story of a New Name, Lila has recently married & made her entrée into the family business; Elena, meanwhile, continues her studies & her exploration of the world beyond the neighborhood that she so often finds stifling. Marriage appears to have imprisoned Lila, & the pressure to excel is at times too much for Elena. Yet the two young women share a complex & evolving bond that is central to their emotional lives & a source of strength in the face of life’s challenges. 

In these Neapolitan Novels, Elena Ferrante, “one of the great novelists of our time” (The New York Times), gives us a poignant & universal story about friendship & belonging, a meditation on love & jealousy, freedom & commitment—at once a masterfully plotted page-turner & an intense, generous-hearted family saga.

“Imagine if Jane Austen got angry & you’ll have some idea of how explosive these works are.” —The Australian

“Brilliant . . . captivating & insightful . . . the richness of her storytelling is likely to please fans of Sara Gruen & Silvia Avallone.” —Booklist (starred review)

Elena Ferrante’s most recent novel is the instant New York Times bestseller, The Lying Life of Adults (Europa, 2020).