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I’ve been engrossed in The Story of the Lost Child, the fourth in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (Europa Editions). The series follows the friendship of Elena (the narrator) and Lila (her fiery and fearless friend) from girlhood to old age. Very little of what we find precious (romance, marriage, career, motherhood) remains intact here—all of it is mined with refreshing and ferocious honesty. The novels dredge up what we might rather keep hidden: the human propensity for competition, rivalry, and profound insecurity.