From one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, Elena Ferrante, the continuing story of Lila and Lena, two bright young girls who have grown up in the tough, rough streets of post war Naples.

Striving to make a better life for themselves, they work hard at school but Lila is stopped in her tracks when forced to give up her education and work for the family shoe making business. It's not long before their worlds are pushed apart and Lila ends up marrying a local businessman and son of the murdered local loan shark Don Achille.

Lena ...... Monica Dolan
Lila ...... Anastasia Hille
Lena (adolescent) ...... Daisy Tompkinson
Lila (adolescent) ...... Chloe Harris
Rino ...... Tom Varey
Carmela ...... Harriet Waters
Marcello ...... Luke Williams
Michele ...... Lee Rufford
Stefano ...... Adam Long
Pasquale ...... Joseph Palmer
Nino Sarratore ...... Sam Lupton
Antonio ...... Josh Bolt
Marisa ...... Claudia Jolly
Pinuccia ...... Kathryn Drysdale
Gigliola ...... Bessie Carter
Nadia ...... Bessie Carter
Ada ...... Nelly Harker
Enzo ...... Brian Fletcher
Toast Master ...... David Collings
Lena's Mum ...... Jane Whittenshaw
Professor Galiani ...... Sara Markland
Girl ...... Sara Markland
Armando ...... Josh Dylan
Boy ...... Josh Dylan
Voice ...... Josh Dylan

Written by Elena Ferrante
Dramatised by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Producer: Celia de Wolff

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4. First broadcast in January 2017. Show less