The story is set in 18th-century Sicily and narrates the life of a silent Duchess who, because of her inability to speak or hear, was granted more freedom than women usually were in her times, although she was fully a victim of the men who surrounded her. A historical novel written from a feminist point of view. Marianna Ucría was an ancestor of Mariani's. She has been a major author in Italy since the 1960s.
I've been binge-reading Graham Greene novels. His fascinating character studies are combined with political intrigue and vivid portrayals of life in post-colonial locales. I particularly recommend:
Well written, mystery folktale-like prose
A powerful and poetic look at two black men, brothers in their search for love.
Thrilling, disturbing, not easy to put down - by one of my favorite writers.
A retelling of Albert Camus' 1942 novel, L'Etranger/The Stranger
From Benjamin Anastas:
Pairing Ferrante's first novel (published in Italian in 1993) with the first book in her Neapolitan Novels tetralogy shows how her urgency as a literary artist has only deepened with time.
Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels:
From Jean Randich:
Ferrante tracks a fierce friendship of two imaginative girls, growing up in hardscrabble, post-war Naples through to today, and how they refuse to conform to docility, but struggle to find their freedom and power. Unforgettable page-turners.
From Noah Coburn:
Sprawling, elegant, and entertaining.
From Noah Coburn:
Sparse and just as elegant and entertaining.