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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 2

Reading Europe - Italy: My Brilliant Friend

Episode 2

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 2

Despite her friend Lila's dismay, Lena continues her affair with Nino.

By Elena Ferrante. Despite his loyalty to his wife, and her friend Lila's dismay, Lena continues her affair with Nino.

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

Accepting the fact that her lover Nino will not leave his wife, Lena decides to move back to Naples with her two children and accept his offer to rent them a flat in the nice part of town. They continue to have an affair and she finds herself pregnant. 

Strangely, Lila also finds herself also pregnant and this unites their friendship once more. Lila however seems to suffer during her pregnancy - not helped by the chaos caused by the earthquake that hit Naples in 1980. Gradually she seems to lose touch with her world once again.

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

BBC Radio 4

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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