Like Joyce’s Dublin, however, Ferrante’s Naples is also a microcosm of the world. Perhaps not since Ulysses has there been a work of fiction so firmly based in one city. The second series premieres in Italian cinemas this month, before going on Italian TV in February. Naples has far more tourists now, however, partly due to Ferrante fever: the four novels chronicling the friendship of two Neapolitan women, Lila and Lenu, from the 1950s to the 2000s are a worldwide hit and the series based on the first novel aired here on Sky last year. The city has lost none of its fascination: buckets are still lowered from high windows on winding lanes strung with washing lines. Having torn through Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels as avidly as any of her 10 million other readers worldwide, I just had to go back. The moment I hit Naples for the first time 20 years ago I knew it was my favourite Italian city.
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