“Incandescent... In the Margins is a philosophical monograph on the nature of writing.”—Molly Young, The New York Times
Four new and revelatory essays by the author of My Brilliant Friend and The Lost Daughter.
In 2020, Claire Luchette in O, The Oprah Magazine described the beloved Italian novelist Elena Ferrante as “an oracle among authors.” Here, in these four crisp essays, Ferrante offers a rare look at the origins of her literary powers. She writes about her influences, her struggles, and her formation as both a reader and a writer; she describes the perils of “bad language” and suggests ways in which it has long excluded women’s truth; she proposes a choral fusion of feminine talent as she brilliantly discourses on the work of Emily Dickinson, Gertrude Stein, Ingeborg Bachmann, and many others.
Here is a subtle yet candid book by “one of the great novelists of our time” about adventures in literature, both in and out of the margins.
“In these four pitch-perfect essays, the doyenne of Italian literature pores over her toolbox, discovering that reinvention is the name of her game... An essential read for all aspiring writers.”—Oprah Daily, A Most Anticipated Book of 2022
“Razor-sharp... A candid look into Ferrante’s development of not only her craft, but also her life-long passion for literature.”—TIME Magazine, A Most Anticipated Book of 2022
★ “Four essays illuminate the mind of Ferrante in this dazzling collection... The author’s legions of fans are in for a treat.”—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
★ “These brilliant essays not only provide insights into other great writers and their work but into Ferrante’s own work as well, and will be appreciated by her many followers as well as scholars and general readers.”—Library Journal (Starred Review)
“The essays of In the Margins are illuminating and beguiling as they peek into the literary craft of a writer at the height of her powers.”—ForeWord Reviews
“Ferrante offers insights about her complex protagonists and enticing glimpses into a writer’s life.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A vivid and concise introduction to effective writing for students and professionals alike... This book is a true treasure and could provide an important guide for other marginalized writers looking for their own voices.”—New York Journal of Books
“Invoking the digressive literature of humours by Diderot and Sterne, the writer identifies the models of that impetuous style struggling against the margins of the written page.”—World Literature Today
“An intimate self-portrait and an essential read.”—A.V. Club, A Most Anticipated Book of 2022
“Lucid, well-formed, captivating... Every essay here is a blend of deep thought, rigorous analysis and graceful prose.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Engaging, slyly disruptive... As writers and readers, Ferrante suggests, we will always be at once united with and separate from the people, language, literature, and culture we inhabit, inherit, and create.”—Air Mail
“An unmistakable triumph.”—Asymptote Journal
“In these wise and vigorous pieces examining Ferrante's lifetime spent reading and writing—and what it has meant to do these things as a woman....There are gems aplenty... A slim but formidable book.”—Booklist
“An ode to reading and writing... In the Margins illuminates the themes that characterise [Ferrante’s] novels: intense female friendships, mother-daughter relationships and betrayal.”—Financial Times
“If you’ve recently thrilled to the adaptation of ‘The Lost Daughter,’ these four new essays by the Neapolitan author will keep the thrill going.”—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times
