The Brilliant Friends: Origins of a Success. Louisa May Alcott and Elena Ferrante

Abstract

The utopia of a self-sufficient world of women, united by the bond of friendship, is a recurring theme in female literature from the Renaissance until today. A world apart, private, hidden from the eye of history, in which the hierarchical relationships disappear, replaced by fluid bonds between single women who are part of a group. A winning literary utopia, considering the extraordinary consensus of female audience obtained from both the novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women and the recent quadrilogy by Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend, the story of long lasting friendship that opens the curtain over half a century reflections of women about women. Two worldwide editorial successes that say much more to readers than it appears and make female friendship a successful brand.