49 pages 1 hour read

Elena Ferrante

The Lost Daughter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006

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Chapters 21-25

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 21 Summary

After Giovanni leaves, Leda is nervous and studies compulsively until she falls asleep. The next day Leda again plans to return the doll, but first, she strolls through a fair in town. While there, she gets a phone call from Nina. The woman tells her she knows Leda saw her in the forest with Gino and asks to speak with her.

Nina meets Leda with Elena in front of an antique booth. She tells the older woman that Elena is still consumed by the loss of her doll. The little girl believes the toy is pregnant and worries that Nani hasn’t taken her medicine. Nina’s large sun hat keeps blowing off, so Leda buys her a hatpin from the booth and fixes it in place for her. Nina then turns the conversation to Gino, saying she knows Leda saw them kissing. She tells Leda that she is happy with her child and husband. Nina admires Leda and doesn’t want her to “think badly” of her. Leda insists that she doesn’t, and Nina asks Leda why she left her daughters and then returned. Leda responds carefully, trying to find words that will help the younger woman.

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