N.30
August 25th, 2025 – Eleonora Corradi
From Puglia to the United States: the international journey of “La portalettere”
“La portalettere” is the debut novel by Francesca Giannone, published in Italian in January 2023 by Editrice Nord. It quickly became a publishing phenomenon: with over 400,000 copies sold in a single year, it was one of the best-selling Italian novels of 2023 and 2024, and it won two major literary awards: the Premio Bancarella and the “Amo Questo Libro” prize from Giunti bookstores.
The author of La portalettere.
Francesca Giannone, originally from the Salento region, studied Communication Sciences and trained at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, then in Bologna, where she worked cataloging the volumes of the Luigi Bernardi Association and attended the narrative school “Finzioni.”
La portalettere is not just fiction: it was born from the author’s exploration of her family archives during the 2020 lockdown. Specifically, Giannone found an old business card belonging to her great-grandmother, with the words “Anna Allavena – Portalettere”. That discovery sparked the narrative project and allowed her to reconstruct Anna’s biographical story.
The plot of “La portalettere”.
Set in Salento, in the town of Lizzanello, beginning in June 1934, the novel tells the story of Anna Allavena, a schoolteacher from Liguria who moves to the South with her husband Carlo Greco and their young son, leaving her life in the North behind.
With determination and independence, Anna applies for a position with the postal service in 1935 and becomes the first female mail carrier in the town. She soon becomes an invisible yet central presence in village life. For over twenty years, she delivers letters from soldiers at the front, love notes, postcards from emigrants, and forges connections with those on the margins of society, challenging the patriarchal traditions and stereotypes of Southern Italy at the time.
The novel follows the lives of Anna and the Greco family from the 1930s through the 1950s, including the years of World War II, while also broadening its focus to explore the condition of women. It is a story of personal growth, love, silence, and courage.
A strong subplot involves the Greco brothers, Carlo and Antonio—deeply bonded but both in love with the same woman, Anna. In this context, tensions and passions emerge that impact the entire community.
A character rooted in real History.
Anna Allavena, the protagonist, is directly inspired by the author’s real great-grandmother, the first female mail carrier in both Lizzanello and the Salento region. Giannone reconstructed her story using family letters and documents discovered and studied during the pandemic. The result is a blend of biography and fiction, making the narrative both historically credible and richly imagined.
The success of “La portalettere” in the United States.
The English edition, The Letter Carrier, was released on July 1, 2025, and was met with great acclaim. It was selected by Barnes & Noble as their National Book Club pick for July and discussed in several bookstores throughout August 2025. Barnes & Noble promoted the novel as an ideal choice for reading groups, praising its ability to tell the story of a woman. and an entire community, from a richly historical and emotional perspective.
Review and evaluation of “La portalettere”.
La portalettere is a novel that stands out for its emotional authenticity and narrative depth. Giannone skillfully weaves together generations, geographies, and personal stories into a richly textured family and social portrait. The protagonist is a model of resilience and modernity: breaking gender norms in 1930s Salento and offering a proto-feminist voice.
Although rooted in real events, the story is infused with poetry and vivid imagery of a changing South. The prose is elegant and evocative, never heavy-handed, it brings to life villages, faces, and the hope sealed in each letter.
One point of critique, noted in some reviews, is the novel’s decision to largely omit the core years of World War II (1939–1945), a period some consider a missed opportunity to further connect personal stories to greater historical events. However, this appears to be a deliberate stylistic choice: the focus remains on individual growth and emotional relationships.
In short, it is a successful historical and coming-of-age novel: moving, feminist, well-documented, and gracefully written. Its strength lies especially in Anna’s voice and her “silent revolution” that transforms an entire village.
Why you should read “La portalettere”.
La portalettere by Francesca Giannone is much more than a historical novel: it is a declaration of love to the author’s family legacy, and a tribute to a woman who broke the mold. It’s the perfect read for those looking for stories of real women, for fans of character-driven historical fiction, and for anyone who appreciates a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel.
It is also an excellent recommendation for students of Italian as a foreign language. Giannone’s writing is clear, fluent, and accessible, with well-structured, but not overly complex sentences, making it ideal for intermediate or advanced learners. Additionally, the availability of the English version offers valuable support for comprehension and allows for parallel reading of both texts.
PILLOLE DI GRAMMATICA
I nomi composti da VERBO + NOME PLURALE
Questi nomi indicano spesso oggetti o persone che svolgono una funzione specifica.
Per esempio:
portalettere = portare + lettere → chi consegna la posta
apribottiglie = aprire + bottiglie → strumento per aprire le bottiglie
Questi nomi composti restano invariati al plurale (una portalettere → due portalettere – un apribottiglie → alcuni apribottiglie) e non cambiano nemmeno al cambio del genere (IL portalettere e LA portalettere).
E ORA TOCCA A VOI!
Abbinare il nome composto alla definizione corrispondente: Match the compound noun with the corresponding definition:
1. apribottiglie
2. cavatappi
3. schiaccianoci
4. stuzzicadenti
5. portavivande
6. lavastoviglie
7. asciugacapelli
8. accendisigari
9. battipanni
10. trinciarifiuti
A. Macchinario per distruggere rifiuti.
B. Apparecchio elettrico per asciugare i capelli.
C. Bastoncino usato per pulire i denti dopo i pasti.
D. Strumento per togliere i tappi di sughero dalle bottiglie di vino.
E. Dispositivo per accendere sigarette o sigari, presente anche nelle auto.
F. Utensile per rompere i gusci duri delle noci.
G. Bastone tradizionale usato per eliminare la polvere dai panni sbattendoli.
H. Oggetto usato per aprire bottiglie con tappo a corona (birra o bibite).
I. Elettrodomestico per lavare piatti, bicchieri e posate.
L. Contenitore per trasportare o servire il cibo.
