Elena Ferrante: A Best-Selling Author and Enduring Mystery!

Since the New York Times said that Elena Ferrante's 2012 novel My Brilliant Friend was the best novel of the 21st century, we naturally had to ask ourselves: What's up with Ferrante? "Elena Ferrante" is actually a pseudonym, and no one knows who the writer really is. Is anonymity the reason for her success? She has said to let her novel speak for itself. She explained in the Paris Review: "I was frightened at the thought of having to come out of my shell." She said getting her real name out of the spotlight was necessary for her writing process. In The Guardian, she was clearer: "I believe that books, once they are written, have no need of their authors," making it evident that she is not planning on revealing her identity any time soon.

We have to admit, it is true that withholding the identity of this writer strengthens her novel. But let's be real, it also creates a huge mystery, and we love mysteries! In the end, we end up speculating more about the mysterious author than her work. With mystery, her popularity grows. The proof: her anonymity has created a lot of buzz. There have been investigations and made-up names. But Ferrante has always denied them. She has even threatened to stop writing if they don't stop investigating.

Honestly, it doesn't matter who Elena Ferrante is; what truly matters is the profound impact of her work. Her novels serve as gateways, inviting audiences into her captivating worlds. She has written a lot of literature, but her best work is the coming-of-age Neapolitan Quartet, which includes My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, and The Story of the Lost Child. The Quartet revolves around two best friends, Elena and Lila, whose lives change, creating tension between the two as time passes. Its compelling narrative even inspired a TV adaptation that you can stream now on Max. 

Elena Ferrante is the author of the best novel of the 21st century, but we don't even know who she is. If anonymity is not a marketing operation, has it worked out? Doesn't the audience speak more about her now that she is anonymous? That the world speaks about her novels and not herself? It doesn't seem like it, because the harsh truth is that we talk about her because we are curious. Ultimately, literature is a product to consume, and Ferrante has created a strong publicity tool. Good literature? For sure. Good marketing? Definitely.