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Drama: Reading Europe - Italy: The Story of a Lost Child

Monica Dolan

Anastasia Hille

Daniel Flynn

Ferdinand Kingsley

Sylvestra Le Touzel

Grace Wingate

Ella Dale

Isobel Tinsley

Georgia Taft

Claudia Jolly

Louise Calf

Hugh Kermode

Jane Whittenshaw

David Collings

Simon Scardifield

Josh Dylan

Sara Markland

Nelly Harker

Carl Prekopp

Ben Crowe

Nick Armfield

Sylvie Goodwin

Grace Pearcey

Cosima Pearcey

Daniel Ryan

Tom Davies

Nicholas Gleaves

Elena Ferrante

Ann Goldstein

Timberlake Wertenbaker

Celia de Wolff

Drama on 4: Reading Europe - Italy: The Story of a Lost Child: Episode 1

Reading Europe - Italy: My Brilliant Friend

Episode 1

Reading Europe - Italy: The Story of a Lost Child

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Reading Europe - Italy: The Story of a Lost Child, Episode 1

By Elena Ferrante. Lena begins an affair her best friend's ex-lover Nino.

By Elena Ferrante. Lena seeks a divorce from her husband, while she embarks on an affair with her best friend's ex-lover.

Elena Ferrante's story of a life long friendship between Lila and Lena comes to an end in this sad and surprising final chapter.

Lena, now a famous writer, returns to Naples with her two children to find Lila has also managed to turned her life around, despite remaining in the claws of violent and mafia run Naples.  Finding themselves both pregnant, the complications of their friendship grows ever deeper and the tensions deepen. As the city attempts to rebuild itself, post war Naples continues to struggle to accept or change the inevitabilities of life. 

Broken marriages, violent relationships, and the yearning for something more - something better is never far away.  The violent past of these two extraordinary friends will always be there and, for one, there seems to be only one way out. 

Written by Elena Ferrante
Translated by Ann Goldstein
Dramatised for radio by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Directed by Celia de Wolff
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

Drama on 4: Reading Europe - Italy: The Story of a Lost Child

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Adaptation of the final novel in Elena Ferrante's series about a lifelong friendship.

Adaptation of the fourth and final novel in Elena Ferrante's acclaimed series about a lifelong friendship.

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