Lies and Sorcery

A monumental work by one of Italy’s greatest writers, Lies and Sorcery unfolds as a sweeping tale of three generations of women, now presented in its first complete English translation.

Elsa Morante, long revered as a towering figure of twentieth-century literature, crafted this debut novel during World War II, drawing on the grand traditions of Stendhal, Tolstoy, and Proust. Set against the evocative backdrop of Sicily, the story traces the tangled lives of a fiercely unconventional family across time.

The narrative is guided by Elisa, an orphan raised by a woman cast out from society. Having spent much of her life immersed in fantasy, Elisa is forced to confront reality after her guardian’s death. What follows is her attempt to unravel the dramatic, often painful history of her family—a story shaped by passion, deception, and betrayal.

Yet Elisa herself is an elusive storyteller, weaving a narrative that is as seductive as it is uncertain. As her account unfolds, it reveals not only a web of personal intrigue but also the deeper imprint of social and political injustice.

With luminous prose and psychological depth, Morante explores the fragile, destructive bonds that tie her characters together, creating a novel that is as intimate as it is expansive, and as haunting as it is unforgettable.