What makes a classic novel? Is it because of how popular or beautifully it is written? In answering the question of books that will become classics in 50 years time, I turned to a favourite of mine: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. Whilst the true identity of Ferrante remains a mystery, the Italian novel, published in 2011, has become one of the most popular of our time. It follows the friendship of Elena Greco (known as Lenù) and Raffaella Cerullo (known as Lila) in a working-class neighbourhood of post-war Naples. The novel is first in Ferrante’s ‘Neapolitan Quartet’ and begins with an older Lenù learning of Lila’s disappearance and reflecting on her friendship with Lila.
The novel focuses on Lenù and Lila’s childhood and adolescence. Written from Lenù’s perspective, we see her spurred on by Lila’s natural intelligence to become top of the class and to escape the harsh environment into which they were born. Throughout the novel, their close bond is of the utmost importance to them. We are invited to share Lenù’s deepest thoughts: her jealousy at Lila’s boldness and finding a husband. When Lila confronts Don Achille, a villain of the neighbourhood who the girls liken to an “ogre”, Lenù’s apprehension is clear when juxtaposed to Lila’s confidence in confronting this man who is feared by the neighbourhood. However, Lenù follows her, cementing the camaraderie between them.
Later in the novel and subsequent series, the friendship ventures into more severe territory with complexities that are entwined with Italy’s damaged political climate after the Second World War. The women of this novel fight these changes and their friendship is truly strained at times. In asking why this novel will achieve classic status, I am reminded of the enduring female relationships of classic novels such as Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. These novels focus on female relationships as a “sisterhood”. This does exist in My Brilliant Friend but more than that there is a sense these women are going into a battle. For women now, these challenges still exist and it is important to see this reflected in literature which will still speak to people in years to come. As Elena takes Lila’s hand to fight the “ogre”, the strongest bond these characters will ever know is formed and a classic novel is born.
“Beach” by Sean MacEntee is licensed under CC BY 2.0