Swimming to Elba
By Silvia AvalloneTranslated by Antony Shugaar
By Silvia AvalloneTranslated by Antony Shugaar
By Silvia AvalloneRead by Cassandra CampbellTranslated by Antony Shugaar
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$22.00
Published on Apr 30, 2013 | 320 Pages
Published on Apr 30, 2013 | 320 Pages
They were always a pair: daring, intelligent Anna and breathtakingly gorgeous Francesca. Just shy of fourteen, their newly acquired curves and skimpy bathing suits have earned them celebrity status on the beaches of their gritty town, where the glittering resort island of Elba taunts them from across the bay. The girls, aware of their newfound power, are on the brink of everything—high school, adulthood, ambition—but when their intense friendship suffers a blow, each sets off on her own, only to learn that the "glamorous" world of adult physicality can be at best banal and at worst dehumanizing. As their choices take them to a painful crossroads, the girls must reconnect if they have any hope of escaping their small-town destinies.
Frank, sensual, and evocative of the Academy Award–winning film Cinema Paradiso and the international bestseller The Solitude of Prime Numbers, Swimming to Elba is a harrowing yet redemptive meditation on politics, family, sex, and the lasting power of friendship.
Author
Silvia Avallone
Silvia Avallone is an Italian poet and novelist. Her debut novel, Swimming to Elba, was first published in Italy as Acciaio, and won second place in the 2010 Premio Strega. Born in Bielle, Italy, she now lives in Bologna.
Learn More about Silvia Avallone