“My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante is the story of two girls, Elena and Lila, growing up in a poor neighborhood in Naples during the 1950s.
Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym, and the true identity of the author remains a mystery. This has added to the intrigue and allure of the Neapolitan Novels.
The series has been adapted into a highly successful HBO television series, which has brought international attention to the books
“Call Me by Your Name” by André Aciman is a story of desire and longing in 1980s Italy. It follows Elio, a seventeen-year-old, who spends his summer at his family’s villa.
When Oliver, a doctoral student, comes to stay for the summer, their connection grows into an intense relationship. Set against the backdrop of warm beaches and quiet Italian towns, the novel explores first love and its lasting impact.
Giorgio Bassani wrote “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” a novel about an affluent Jewish family in Ferrara during the rise of fascism in Italy. The story focuses on their secluded life behind the walls of their estate and their struggles as anti-Semitic laws tighten.
It is told through the eyes of a young man who becomes close to the family, drawn to their daughter, Micòl. The book captures the tension between their isolated world and the harsh realities outside.
The “Neapolitan Novels” by Elena Ferrante follow the lifelong friendship and rivalry between two women, Elena and Lila, who grow up in a poor neighborhood in Naples.
The story begins in childhood and spans decades, exploring their struggles, ambitions, and the changes in their complex relationship. The backdrop of post-war Italy, combined with themes of identity and loyalty, brings their world vividly to life.
“The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith is a psychological thriller about Tom Ripley, a young man sent to Italy to bring home a wealthy acquaintance, Dickie Greenleaf. Tom becomes fascinated with Dickie’s lifestyle and forms a dangerous plan to take it for himself.
The story moves through stunning Italian settings, from bustling cities to idyllic coastal towns, with tension building as Tom’s lies spiral out of control.
The novel has been adapted into multiple films, including “Purple Noon” (1960) directed by René Clément and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon.
“The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco is a historical mystery set in a 14th-century Italian monastery. The book follows a Franciscan friar, William of Baskerville, and his novice as they investigate a series of strange deaths.
Along the way, they encounter secret manuscripts, hidden passages, and tensions between religious factions. The story combines a murder mystery with medieval history, pulling readers into the dark and intricate life of the monastery.
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa wrote “The Leopard,” a novel that captures the decline of the Sicilian aristocracy in the 19th century. It follows the life of Prince Fabrizio, a man caught between fading traditions and a changing world, during the unification of Italy.
This novel was adapted into a film directed by Luchino Visconti in 1963, starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon.
“1934” by Alberto Moravia follows Lucio, a disillusioned Italian writer, as he travels to Capri to escape the political and emotional turmoil surrounding him.
On the ferry, he meets an enigmatic German woman named Beate, whose personal struggles reflect the larger tensions of pre-World War II Europe.
The novel captures Lucio’s internal conflict and his conversations with Beate, balancing personal despair with the growing shadow of fascism.
“Across the River and Into the Trees” by Ernest Hemingway is set in post-World War II Italy and follows Colonel Richard Cantwell, a war-weary soldier, as he spends time in Venice.
Reflecting on his life, love, and approaching death, he engages in a tender yet bittersweet romance with a young Italian woman named Renata.
The story captures the beauty of Venice with its canals and cafes, while exploring themes like mortality and lost glory through Cantwell’s struggles and memories.
The novel “The Conformist” by Alberto Moravia follows Marcello Clerici, a man obsessed with blending into societal norms during Mussolini’s Italy.
Told through his psychological struggles and choices, the story explores his journey into the fascist regime, his troubled past, and a mission that challenges his sense of morality.
The book captures a sense of isolation and the lengths one might go to fit into a world that demands compliance.
Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” takes place during World War I and tells the story of Lieutenant Frederic Henry. He is an American serving as an ambulance driver in the Italian army.
The novel follows his love affair with Catherine Barkley, a British nurse, against the backdrop of the war. The story captures the brutality of combat, the desperation of escape, and the fragile hope of love during a chaotic time.
André Aciman’s “Find Me” follows the characters from “Call Me By Your Name,” revisiting Elio, Oliver, and Elio’s father, Samuel, years after their lives first intertwined.
The story begins with Samuel meeting a woman on a train, which sparks a new relationship that changes his life. Elio, now a classical pianist, experiences his own romance, while Oliver, living in New York, reflects on his past and considers what could have been.
The novel explores love, memory, and the pull of yearning across time.
The novel “The Light in the Piazza” by Elizabeth Spencer takes place in 1950s Italy and tells the story of Margaret Johnson and her daughter, Clara, as they travel through Florence.
Clara meets and falls in love with a young Italian man named Fabrizio, but a secret about her past threatens their romance. The book captures the beauty of Italy while exploring themes of love, family, and personal choices.
“A Room with a View” by E. M. Forster follows Lucy Honeychurch, a young Englishwoman visiting Italy. While staying in Florence, she meets George Emerson, an unconventional man who challenges her restrained upbringing.
Their encounter stirs feelings that conflict with her planned engagement to another man. The story moves between Italy and England, exploring Lucy’s struggle with her emotions and societal expectations.
The book “The Betrothed” by Alessandro Manzoni tells the story of Renzo and Lucia, a couple whose plans to marry are disrupted by a powerful nobleman.
Set in 17th-century Lombardy during a time of war, famine, and plague, the novel follows their struggles against injustice, deception, and hardship. Through their journey, it paints a vivid picture of life in Italy during that period.
The book “The Charterhouse of Parma” by Stendhal follows the life of Fabrizio del Dongo, a young Italian nobleman caught up in the turbulence of early 19th-century Europe.
Fabrizio gets swept into battles, political intrigue, and romantic entanglements, moving through the world of power and ambition.
The story portrays his experiences at Waterloo, his time in prison, and the power struggles of Parma’s court, painting a vivid picture of a passionate and chaotic era.
The book “That Awful Mess on Via Merulana” by Carlo Emilio Gadda is set in 1920s Rome and follows the investigation of a robbery and murder in a bourgeois apartment building.
The story mixes a detective plot with vivid descriptions of society, capturing the chaos and tensions of the time.
Inspector Ingravallo, a complex and thoughtful character, probes the lives of the residents, uncovering secrets and frustrations beneath their respectable appearances.
“The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone is a novel about the life of Michelangelo. It follows his struggles, his dedication to art, and his relationships with powerful figures like the Medici family and Pope Julius II.
The story takes you into the creation of his most famous works, such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David, while showing his frustrations, his passions, and his constant pursuit of perfection.
The novella “Death in Venice” by Thomas Mann follows Gustav von Aschenbach, a disciplined and aging writer, who travels to Venice seeking inspiration. Drawn to the city’s beauty and a mysterious sense of decay, he becomes infatuated with a young boy named Tadzio.
As Venice succumbs to a cholera outbreak, Aschenbach’s obsession deepens, revealing the conflict between order and uncontrolled desire.
The book “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo tells the story of the Corleone family, a powerful Mafia dynasty in post-war New York with deep ties to Sicily. At its center is Don Vito Corleone, the head of the family, who commands respect and fear.
The novel follows his son Michael, a reluctant outsider to the family business, as he is drawn into the world of crime and power. The book vividly portrays loyalty, betrayal, and the bonds of family against the backdrop of an Italian-American underworld.
This novel was adapted into the famous film directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972, starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
“Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy” by Frances Mayes shares her experiences of buying and restoring a crumbling villa in the Tuscan countryside.
The book captures her journey as she immerses herself in Italian life, visits local markets, and learns about the region’s traditions.
The book was adapted into a film directed by Audrey Wells in 2003, starring Diane Lane. The film popularized the idea of living in Tuscany and inspired many to visit or move to the region.
The novel “Where Angels Fear to Tread” by E. M. Forster follows the story of an English widow named Lilia, who travels to Italy and impulsively marries a local man. Her decision causes outrage among her snobbish in-laws back in England, who see the match as beneath her.
When complications arise, including the birth of a child, the family’s attempts to intervene lead to unexpected and tragic consequences. The book explores themes of cultural clash and the misunderstandings that arise when two very different worlds collide.
“Back to Bologna” by Michael Dibdin is a crime novel featuring the clever detective Aurelio Zen. Set in Bologna, it begins with the murder of a wealthy and disliked industrialist. As Zen investigates, connections to Italian soccer, food, and media scandals come into play.
The book captures the chaos of the city and its vibrant culture, mixing humor with mystery in unexpected ways.
Grazia Deledda’s “Canne al vento” tells the story of Efix, a loyal servant to the once-wealthy Pintor sisters in a small Sardinian village.
The novel explores themes of guilt, pride, and redemption as Efix struggles to make amends for a past mistake that heavily influences their lives.
The rural Sardinian setting is vividly portrayed, from its rugged landscapes to the traditions and hardships of the people who live there.
The novel “Fontamara” by Ignazio Silone tells the story of a small, rural village in southern Italy during the Fascist regime. It focuses on the struggles of the poor farmers who live there as they face exploitation, corruption, and political oppression.
The villagers’ limited understanding of the world outside their community makes them vulnerable, especially when they are manipulated by those in power. The book highlights their quiet perseverance and moments of resistance amidst their hardships.
The novel “Foucault’s Pendulum” by Umberto Eco follows three friends who work at a publishing house in Milan and create a fictional conspiracy as a joke.
They weave together historical myths, secret societies, and arcane knowledge, but their game spirals out of control when real-life believers take notice. Their playful invention turns darker as they are drawn into a dangerous web of secrets and danger.
The story travels through historical mysteries and modern paranoia, grounded in a richly detailed Italian setting.
“M: Son of the Century” by Antonio Scurati tells the story of Benito Mussolini’s rise to power in Italy during the early 20th century.
The novel follows Mussolini as he shifts from being a socialist journalist to the leader of the fascist movement, showing how political chaos and manipulation paved the way for his dictatorship.
The book combines historical events with moments that reveal Mussolini’s ruthless ambition and the growing fanaticism around him.
Cesare Pavese’s “The Moon and the Bonfires” tells the story of a man returning to his small Italian village after years in America. He comes back wealthy but feels like an outsider.
As he reconnects with the landscape and memories of his youth, he reflects on the scars left by war and personal loss. The novel contrasts the quiet beauty of the countryside with the deep pain and secrets people carry.
The book “Ratking” by Michael Dibdin introduces detective Aurelio Zen, who is called to the Italian city of Perugia to solve the kidnapping of a wealthy industrialist. The case pulls him into the world of a powerful family with dark secrets and hidden motives.
As Zen navigates the family’s dysfunction and the corruption around them, the story reveals a layered look at Italian society and power struggles.
“The Birth of Venus: A Novel” by Sarah Dunant is set in 15th-century Florence during the rise of religious zealotry under Savonarola. The story follows Alessandra, a young woman with a passion for art, who navigates a world that restricts her talents and desires.
Her encounter with a mysterious painter hired by her family sets off a series of events that intertwine art, love, and danger in a city brimming with political and religious turmoil.
The novel “Inferno” by Dan Brown follows Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of symbology, as he wakes up in a hospital in Florence with no memory of how he got there.
Quickly drawn into a mystery, Langdon uncovers clues tied to Dante’s “The Divine Comedy” and races across Italy to stop a global threat.
The story weaves through famous landmarks, including the Palazzo Vecchio and the Boboli Gardens, blending history and art with a modern puzzle.
The novel was adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard in 2016, starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. The film’s depiction of Florence and its landmarks has drawn many tourists to the city.
The book “History: A Novel” by Elsa Morante focuses on Ida, a teacher in Rome during World War II, whose life takes a drastic turn after an assault by a German soldier results in the birth of her son, Useppe.
The story paints a vivid picture of their struggles with poverty and survival as Italy faces the chaos of war and its aftermath. Through Ida and Useppe, it explores themes of trauma, loss, and resilience while capturing the impact of historical events on ordinary people.
The novel “The Woman of Rome” by Alberto Moravia is a powerful novel set in Fascist-era Italy; it follows the life of Adriana, a young, beautiful woman who becomes a model and later a prostitute to escape poverty.
“Death at La Fenice” by Donna Leon is a murder mystery set in Venice. The story kicks off when the famous conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead during the intermission of an opera at the iconic La Fenice theater.
Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates, uncovering secrets about Wellauer’s life, including past scandals and hidden grudges. The canals and atmosphere of Venice play a strong part in creating the mood of this clever and engaging mystery.
“Death in a Strange Country” by Donna Leon follows Commissario Guido Brunetti as he investigates the murder of an American soldier in Venice. The body is found in a canal, leading Brunetti to uncover corruption and secrets tied to international politics and local power.
The book paints a vivid picture of Venice, from its quiet charm to its darker undercurrents, while keeping the focus on the moral dilemmas Brunetti faces.