The Cursed Friend

‘A widescreen, sensory, visual story that starts with an edge-of-your-seat, crowd-pleasing trick … The characters are big and colourful’ The Times

‘Francesca and Maddalena are vibrant characters for whom we quickly root. Their central relationship and cruel initiation into the world of men is richly imagined. I’m excited to read what Beatrice does next’ Observer

‘Salvioni’s skilful rendering of a female friendship — full of intimacy, admiration, strength, betrayal — has echoes of Elena Ferrante, Natalia Ginzburg and Alba de Céspedes’ Financial Times

‘Salvioni’s fast-paced narrative forges an intense yet timeless tale of female friendship’ New Statesman

‘A tightly wrought tale of friendship forged in the jaws of tyranny, this is a coming-of-age story both heart-rendingly tender and fiercely defiant’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders

‘This debut grips your soul and never lets go’ Le Point

‘A little gem that proves that Italian women’s literature is undergoing a revolution’ Vogue Spain

‘The intensity of the writing, the tight, believable dialogue … the visceral and powerful friendship between two different but connected young girls. Brings to mind Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend’ La Repubblica

‘Bloody, unapologetic, and wild … I loved it!’ Naomi Krupitsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Family

‘From its opening pages, The Cursed Friend grabs the reader’s attention and doesn’t let go’ Laura Spence-Ash, bestselling author of Beyond That, the Sea

‘In her gripping novel set in fascist Italy, and in the tradition of Elsa Morante and Natalia Ginzburg, Beatrice Salvioni gives powerful voice to the female experience in Italy’ Jenny McPhee, author of The Center of Things