The Betrothed

Alessandro Manzoni

Nov 1983 · Penguin UK

About this ebook

Set in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s, The Betrothed tells the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee, they are then cruelly separated, and must face many dangers including plague, famine and imprisonment, and confront a variety of strange characters - the mysterious Nun of Monza, the fiery Father Cristoforo and the sinister 'Unnamed' - in their struggle to be reunited. A vigorous portrayal of enduring passion, The Betrothed's exploration of love, power and faith presents a whirling panorama of seventeenth-century Italian life and is one of the greatest European historical novels.

Ratings and reviews

Originally titled "I promessi sposi", and first published in 1827, THE BETROTHED is widely regarded as the seminal and most widely read novel in Italy. This is the first NEW TRANSLATION in 50 years. A true masterpiece, especially for fans of historical. It's the story of two peasants who wish to marry against many obstacles. A rich picture of medieval life in Italy. But at 720 pages, it feels LONG.

An interesting look at Italy in those days and particularly how the plague effected everyone. At times hard to follow and contained some unnecessary information.

About the author

Alessandro Manzoni (Author)
Alessandro Manzoni was born in 1785 near Lake Como, Italy. Sent to boarding school at the age of five, he felt estranged from his family, particularly when his mother left his father. As a young man Manzoni subscribed to the ideas of the French Revolution, joining his mother in Paris, where he married Henriette Blondel in 1808. He wrote throughout his life, but suffered from a nervous disorder which grew progressively worse through his lifetime. He died in 1873.