The Young Bride
2018 Nominated

The Young Bride

Translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

From international bestselling author, Alessandro Baricco, comes a scintillating and sensual novel about a young woman’s ingress into a fantastically strange family.

The hand of the young woman in question has been promised to the scion of a noble family. She is to make her preparations for marriage at the family’s villa, where the inhabitants never seem to sleep. The atmosphere turns surreal as the days pass and her presence on the family estate begins to make itself felt on her future in-laws.

In this erotically charged and magical novel, Alessandro Baricco portrays a cast of mysterious characters who exist outside of the rules of causation as he tells a story, an adult fable, about fate and the difficult job of confronting the Other and creating an Us.

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Alessandro
Baricco

Alessandro Baricco, beloved by readers worldwide for his innovative take on magical realism, his atmospheric novels and memorable characters, is one of Italy’s bestselling and most critically acclaimed authors. His novels include Silk, An Iliad, and Mr. Gwyn.

Alessandro Baricco, beloved by readers worldwide for his innovative take on magical realism, his atmospheric novels and memorable characters, is one of Italy’s bestselling and most critically acclaimed authors. His novels include Silk, An Iliad, and Mr. Gwyn.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Ann
Goldstein

Ann Goldstein has translated into English all of Elena Ferrante’s books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Lying Life of Adults and The Story of the Lost Child, which was also shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. She has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and is the recipient of the PEN Renato Poggioli Translation Award. She lives in New York.

Ann Goldstein has translated into English all of Elena Ferrante’s books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Lying Life of Adults and The Story of the Lost Child, which was also shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. She has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and is the recipient of the PEN Renato Poggioli Translation Award. She lives in New York.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

The Young Bride is a surreal, magical fable in a beautiful, poetic style. A young bride arrives in a majestic villa in the Italian countryside. While she awaits the arrival of her future husband, she is initiated in the peculiar rituals of their rich family members. Baricco has written a mysterious, dreamy and sensual novel with a bizarre plot. A literary feast!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
19/07/2016
Country
Italy
Original Language
Italian
Publisher
Europa Editions
Translator
Ann Goldstein
Translation
Translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein

RELATED FEATURES

News February 17 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Longlist is Revealed

Delve into the 20 novels longlisted this year.
Video December 31 2025

Bidding farewell on our 30 Years Anniversary Year

Let's take a look back at some highlights from past years.
News November 19 2025

2026 Nominations Revealed

69 titles have been nominated by 80 libraries from 36 countries for the 2026 Award
News November 19 2025

2026 Dublin Literary Award Judges Announced

Meet our judging panel for 2026 Dublin Literary Award

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.