A Rome-born translator of German feminist fiction on Wednesday confirmed on Twitter that she was the long-unidentified writer Elena Ferrante - but her publisher said the Twitter account was fake.
The series of tweets purporting to be from Anita Raja, wife of Neapolitan novelist Domenico Starnone, started off by saying "I'm opening this profile and I'll shut it soon. I'll only be here as long as it takes to explain".
It went on: "I confirm, I'm Elena Ferrante. But I think this doesn't change anything in the relationship of the readers with Ferrante's novels.
"I will never talk about Elena Ferrante, nor will I answer in her name, nor will I say anything about her books.
"I thank you. I would only like to ask, now that the curiosity that had lasted years has been satisfied, to let live (and write) in peace." The tweeter purporting to be Raja added: "I think the way in which they succeeded in unmasking an identity by violating privacy and rules was vulgar and dangerous. But I'll have to put up with it".
Italian-American investigative journalist Claudio Gatti 'exposed' Raja as the author of the wildly popular and critically acclaimed Neapolitan quartet after following a paper trail that led to Raja.
His outing of the reclusive author sparked anger and dismay from friends who likened him to the scandal-mongering hacks who sift through dustbins to expose celebrity or political wrongdoing.
However, Ferrante's publisher, E/O, said that the alleged Raja Twitter account was a fake.
It said it had "spoken to Anita Raja who has said she did not open any account".
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