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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