Jeanette Winterson defends Elena Ferrante’s right to be two distinct personalities, because “Writing is an act of splitting…Writers are multiple personalities”

“And I go on calling Elena Ferrante Elena Ferrante because that is who she wishes to be. She has been very clear about why she has chosen to be two people – one of whom can be known through her books, and one of whom cannot be known at all. Writing is an act of splitting – like mercury. Writers are multiple personalities” (1).

1. Jeanette Winterson. “The malice and sexism behind the ‘unmasking’ of Elena Ferrante.” The Guardian, October 7, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/07/unmasking-elena-ferrante