The Postwoman

The debut novel of young Italian writer Francesca Giannone, which has become a literary sensation in Italy — more than 580,000 copies have already been sold, and the publishing rights have been sold to 37 countries.

The novel is based on the story of the author's great-grandmother, telling the life of Anna — a young woman from northern Italy, who moved with her family to the south of the country, to her husband's homeland, in 1934. Becoming the first woman postman in Lizzanello, Anna challenges the patriarchal norms of society. For over 20 years, first on foot, and then by bicycle, she delivers important correspondence to the residents — including letters from soldiers at the front, postcards from those who have left Italy forever, and messages from secret lovers. Anna reads letters to illiterates and even teaches them to read and write. Unbeknownst to her, the brave 'foreigner' from the north will change much in the southern town and seriously influence the status of women there.