A “beautifully written” dark fable from a doll’s point of view―by the New York Times–bestselling author of The Lost Daughter and the Neapolitan Novels (The Washington Post).
One of NPR’s Best Books of the Year.
Readers of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter may recall the little doll―lost or stolen―around which that novel revolves. Here, Ferrante retells the tale from the doll’s perspective.
Celina is having a terrible night, one full of jealousy for the new kitten, Minù; feelings of abandonment and sadness; misadventures at the hands of the beach attendant; and dark dreams. But she will be happily found by Mati, her child, once the sun rises . . .
“Everyone should read anything with Ferrante’s name on it.” ―The Boston Globe
"Ferrante fans may well find 'The Beach at Night' intriguing, and it is certainly beautifully written."
—The Washington Post
"Cerri's eerie scenes of the glassy-eyed doll are well-suited to the ominous nature of Ferrante's story, but although Celina and Mati are eventually reunited, it's the disconcerting combination of the doll's intensely human emotions and complete lack of agency that leaves the strongest impression."
—Publisher's Weekly
"A complex and fascinating read."
—Toronto Star
"...translated beautifully and uncompromisingly by Ann Goldstein, The Beach at Night is a dark tale with a complex girl-doll heroine and malevolent baddie for brave little readers...classic Elena for beginners and their Ferrante-fevered parents."
—Times of London
