In today’s episode of The Nordic Reader, we are joined by Anna Kokko to discuss Francesca Giannone’s novel, The Letter Carrier. Anna is an Executive Editor at WSOY, where she works with translated fiction. Originally published in Italian, the text is translated into Finnish by Leena Taavitsainen-Petäjä under the title Lizzanellon kirjeenkantaja, and was published by WSOY in March 2026. The English translation is done by Elettra Pauletto and was published in June 2025.

The Letter Carrier is the debut novel by Italian author Francesca Giannone. Published in 2023, the book has been an extraordinary success, selling over 700 000 copies in Italy alone, and winning the prestigious Premio Bancarella prize.

The novel centres around Anna Allavena and her family. Spanning almost 30 years, the story starts in 1934, when Anna moves to the small town of Lizanello with her husband, Carlo, and their son, Roberto. This is Carlo’s hometown, and here Carlo reunites with his brother, Antonio, and his family. However, Anna finds herself labelled as the “outlander”, and struggles to find her place in the town. Direct and outspoken, Anna has her own opinions and ambitions. Keen to work and have a purpose in her life outside of her family, she becomes the local letter carrier - causing quite the stir in the town. As Anna seeks to establish herself in Lizanello, other members of the family struggle with their own troubles.

Skipping over the war years, the novel traces the lives of four main characters and their children from 1934 to 1961. Deeply rooted in the small town setting of Lizanello, it is an epic family saga with some great twists and turns.

Books Mentioned:

The Letter Carrier by Francesca Giannone

Septology by Jon Fosse

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Good Morning Midnight by Jean Rhys

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Unruly by David Mitchell

Guest: Anna Kokko

Producer and Host: Mia Todd

Co-host: Francis Neale

Editing and Marketing: Hanna Todd