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The Betrothed

by Alessandro Manzoni, Bruce Penman (Translator)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 1,779 ratings · 142 reviews

This historical romance of seventeenth-century Milan, first published in 1827, is the most famous of Italian novels. It has great breadth and depth - indeed its moral, religious and political themes are as applicable to the problems of our own day as they were to the Napoleonic times when it was written, or the period of the Thirty Years War in which it is set.

Paperback, 720 pages

Published March 6th 1984 by Penguin Classics (first published 1827)

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Jan 08, 2013 [P] rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m not really the right person to speak, or write, about romantic reunions or of going to great lengths to be with a loved one. The closest I have come to that is when, after breaking up with a girl in London and moving back up north, I agreed to get the train down to see her one Saturday. Only, it wasn’t quite a romantic reunion, as she had a ‘I can’t do this’ moment on the tube and ran off and left me stranded in the capital. Of course I rang a friend and got blind drunk and later caught the...more I’m not really the right person to speak, or write, about romantic reunions or of going to great lengths to be with a loved one. The closest I have come to that is when, after breaking up with a girl in London and moving back up north, I agreed to get the train down to see her one Saturday. Only, it wasn’t quite a romantic reunion, as she had a ‘I can’t do this’ moment on the tube and ran off and left me stranded in the capital. Of course I rang a friend and got blind drunk and later caught the last train home, although the word ‘home’ is disingenuous as I passed out on the train and missed my stop and ended up in the middle of nowhere [some kind of train station-cum-car park] at midnight.

Fortunately [in the interests of a happy ending] Renzo from Manzoni’s The Betrothed has better luck than I did. The circumstances aren’t the same though, of course. His fiancée, Lucia, is pursued by a powerful and overly amorous man, Don Ridrigo, who forbids her to marry. Hot-headed Renzo wants to go ahead with the wedding anyway and schemes to this end, but ultimately fails and both are forced to flee. Lucia is given refuge in a nunnery in Monza, while Renzo ends up in Milan and is subsequently embroiled in bread riots and famine, then, later, the famous plague of 1630. All the while he attempts to ‘get back’ to Lucia.

If all this sounds episodic and picaresque that is because it is, but The Betrothed is an exciting, delightful, adventure story; one that is written with great skill and charm and wisdom. The characters, although they are, yes, one dimensional [pure Lucia, impetuous Renzo, dastardly Don Rodrigo etc], have an enchanting fairytale quality. My favourite is The Unnamed, an evil bloodthirsty tyrant responsible for outrageous acts of malevolence, who kidnaps Lucia and takes her to his foreboding castle. He intends to have his wicked way with her [of course!] but his heart is melted by the young lady [don’t scoff] and he rediscovers his humanity [stop rolling your eyes]. None of which happened to me, I might add; my greatest adventure was being forcibly woken up by someone asking me if I was ok [I wasn't], then having to stumble around a deserted train station and the surrounding area in the middle of the night in search of a taxi. (less)

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May 30, 2012 Simona Bartolotta rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classici

«Sicuro che ho voglia di scherzare: e mi pare che sia ora finalmente. Ne abbiam passate delle brutte, n'è vero, i miei giovani? delle brutte n'abbiam passate: questi quattro giorni che dobbiamo stare in questo mondo, si può sperare che vogliano essere un po' meglio. Ma! fortunati voi altri, che, non succedendo disgrazie, avete ancora un pezzo da parlare de' guai passati: io in vece, sono alle ventitré e tre quarti, e... i birboni posson morire; della peste si può guarire; ma agli anni non c'è ri

...more

«Sicuro che ho voglia di scherzare: e mi pare che sia ora finalmente. Ne abbiam passate delle brutte, n'è vero, i miei giovani? delle brutte n'abbiam passate: questi quattro giorni che dobbiamo stare in questo mondo, si può sperare che vogliano essere un po' meglio. Ma! fortunati voi altri, che, non succedendo disgrazie, avete ancora un pezzo da parlare de' guai passati: io in vece, sono alle ventitré e tre quarti, e... i birboni posson morire; della peste si può guarire; ma agli anni non c'è rimedio: e, come dice, senectus ipsa est morbus.»

Questo libro mi ha fatto scoprire quanto la sottoscritta sia in realtà una esserina meschina e spudorata.
Dico sul serio. Avete anche una benché minima idea delle colossali cazzate che ho rifilato alla prof. ricopiate in bella scrittura nel quaderno di antologia? Cose abominevoli che iniziavano con qualcosa del tipo "Ancora una volta il Manzoni, con la sua grande capacità narrativa"; oppure: "Come già ribadito, in un romanzo di larga veduta come I Promessi Sposi, non poteva mancare ecc.". Poi per carità, non dico che sia oggettivamente un cattivo romanzo, ma ciò che suscita la mia ilarità è che queste cose le scrivevo tanto per scrivere. Il che mi ha portato a pensare a me stessa come una specie di criminale, ma cosa possiamo farci se i professori vogliono sentirsi dire queste cose? Senza contare i classici elogi smodati e a pigliatina per il culo solo in onore di personaggi che, personalmente, ritengo poco meno che odiosi, come i fraticelli del cavolo, o gli amichetti di Renzo, o peggio di peggio, Lucia la Donzella in Lacrime.

Ma tutto questo non c'entra nulla con la recensione.

Iniziamo col parlare dei personaggi. Uno più rompipalle dell'altro. L'unica che mi è piaciuta è la Monaca (e la seconda stellina del mio voto è tutta sua), tanto più perché sin da subito sembra che Manzoni la voglia bollare come un'anima dannata, relegata nel girone dei cattivi senza possibilità di redenzione (questo autore risveglia tutto il mio spirito da bastian contraria). E non venitemi a dire che la Lucy l'avrebbe redenta e cose simili. Gertrude mi è piaciuta perché è complicata, insoddisfatta, controversa. E non me la toccate.
Poi, Lucia. Dio, come l'avrei presa a calci. E sempre a frignare e a pregare, a pregare e a frignare, e poi di nuovo a frignare... basta! La ricorderà come la protagonista femminile che più ha gettato fango sul nostro sesso. Perché farci passare per delle smidollate, dico io? Ma poi, tesoro, tua madre, rispettabile donna di una certa età, ha più iniziativa di te. Poniti delle domande.
Renzo, o Renzo, ma cercarti un'altra figliola no? Eri pure riuscito a scappare dall'abbraccio mortale di madre e figlia, e come un fesso non solo ci ritorni, ma sfidi intemperie, fatiche, notti oscure e tempestose, appestati e indemoniati e via discorrendo per trovarle. Ragazzo, mi deludi. Ma mi complimento per la capacità d'apprendimento veloce.
Per gli altri non sprecherò neppure una virgola perché ne ho già piene le scatole.

La trama: neppure l'autore più premiato al mondo di telenovelas avrebbe potuto far meglio. In sostanza parla di due che si amano ma siccome il riccone della situazione si è infatuato della nostra Lei, il Lui e la Lei e la MadreDiLei devono girare al largo, in questo sono aiutati o ostacolati da Ecclesiastici vari dei quali veniamo a sapere vita morte e miracoli e che non ci interessano, e nel gran finale la piaga che colpisce il mondo intero dei due amanti che ammazza tutti i cattivi e salva tutti i buoni a chiudere la faccenda. C'è pure un capitolo dedicato al classico momento strappalacrime dell' «oh io ti amo» seguito da «io pure ma non posso sposarti». Cioè, roba che neppure Sparks.

Davvero, non ce la faccio più a parlare di questo libro. Ma non tanto perché l'ho fatto in continuazione per nove mesi interi, ma perché, credetemi, è sopravvalutatissimo. E' un libro tedioso, stancante, privo d'azione, intriso di buonismo e morali che vogliono farla da padrone e hanno l'unico effetto di accrescere l'irritazione del lettore. Ci vuole talento per scrivere un mattone del genere e metterci dentro tre, quattro scene come si deve al massimo. La cosa demoralizzante è che Manzoni ha impiegato quasi vent'anni per partorirne la versione finale, tra revisioni ed altro. Ed è scritto anche male. Perché se almeno lo stile fosse stato buono, qualcosa da prendere ci sarebbe stata. No, neppure quello ci viene concesso.

La cosa che mi fa arrabbiare è che in America studiano Il giovane Holden.(less)

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May 25, 2012 Guenda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tranquilli, non ho letto I Promessi Sposi in un giorno. In effetti l'ho letto con la scuola nel corso dell'anno. Che dire di questo libro? Non è proprio male, ma... com'è pesante. E pieno di retorica e di moralismo.
Per di più l'unico personaggio figo (Fra Cristoforo) alla fine muore e invece sopravvive Lucia, alla quale più volte avrei sbattuto la testa contro il muro del lazzaretto. Diamine, se è fastidiosa, quella ragazza. E perché nelle illustrazioni le mettono sempre quei bastoncini da spie...more

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Aug 23, 2007 Lorenzo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: italian, aaa-my-library

This novel is hated by many generations of Italians.

Poor Alessandro Manzoni! He's not to blame for the bad reputation of his book. The moronic Italian educational system is the only guilt of the assassination of I Promessi Sposi in most of its readers.

Just consider this: in Italy we study this novel at primary school, at secondary school and at high school. Every single time restarting from its beginning. Therefore it's pretty obvious that I Promessi Sposi becomes one of the worst nightmares of...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Martina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Grande capolavoro della letteratura italiana. Secondo il mio parere sbagliano a imporlo alla scuole superiori perchè così facendo rovinano il gusto della lettura. L'ho letto, obbligata dalla scuola, e l'ho trovato orribile, non vedevo l'ora che finisse tanto lo sapevo a memoria, poi mi sono decisa a riprenderlo a casa, senza nessuna costrizione, e l'ho trovato interessante e piacevole. Da leggere assolutamente almeno una volta nella vita.

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Apr 02, 2008 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think that I read a different translation than the one in the Penguin, but I don't have it with me to check. This is supposed to be one of the best books ever written, and definately one of the best books written in Italian, so I had been looking forward to reading it eagerly for quite some time. Manzoni describes plagues and mobs wonderously well. If you're looking for a jolly story with clearly drawn, compelling characters with unambiguous moral profiles, then look no further. The heroine is...more

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May 22, 2008 Elena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-italian

An all-time masterpiece of Italian literature. We Italians all study it at school and of course, get bored to tears by it, unless we find some time to actually read and re-read it for our own interest and pleasure - perhaps years after graduation day!. That's when we can truly appreciate the wit, the humour, the historical and psychological insight, the language (it's a pity it cannot be conveyed in translations). The plot is quite simple and you surely have heard of it... if you watch soap oper...more

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Nov 21, 2012 catcarlo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction, novel, romance

Ho frequentato a lungo l’opera della vita di Don Lisander negli anni del liceo e in quelli immediatamente successivi. Trascorsi ormai cinque lustri, era venuta l’ora di riaccostarsi al romanzo e così, facendo una pausa nella ciclica rilettura della Commedia, ho percorso di nuovo la storia del tribolato matrimonio tra Renzo e Lucia. Ho ritrovato il Manzoni che ricordavo, dotato di una grande fluidità di scrittura che sottolinea i pregi ben conosciuti: il disegno incisivo dei personaggi, anche di...more Ho frequentato a lungo l’opera della vita di Don Lisander negli anni del liceo e in quelli immediatamente successivi. Trascorsi ormai cinque lustri, era venuta l’ora di riaccostarsi al romanzo e così, facendo una pausa nella ciclica rilettura della Commedia, ho percorso di nuovo la storia del tribolato matrimonio tra Renzo e Lucia. Ho ritrovato il Manzoni che ricordavo, dotato di una grande fluidità di scrittura che sottolinea i pregi ben conosciuti: il disegno incisivo dei personaggi, anche di quelli minori; l’ironia - ora bonaria, ora acre – che porta il lettore a sorridere spesso e volentieri, anche se a volte è un riso amaro; il dono della sintesi che, grazie a un ‘labor limae’ protrattosi di stesura in stesura, sa esprimere mondi interi con poche, soppesate parole; la grande capacità lirica che regala pagine che emozionano ogni volta e sono giustamente famosissime. Sull’altro piatto della bilancia, ci sono i difetti, come quella Lucia francamente insopportabile – specie a confronto con l’immediata simpatia del suo promesso sposo - e il continuo richiamo alla religione e ai religiosi quasi sempre dalla parte del bene e della giustizia (il quasi è in pratica il solo Don Abbondio): capisco che si tratti di un mondo ancora imbevuto di religiosità – ante Rivoluzione Francese, un po’ come i Paesi arabi d’oggidì – ma a volte è quella, sempre più accentuata, dell’autore a guidare la penna in panegirici di non facile digeribilità. Alla categoria difetti non appartengono invece, almeno per me, le lunghe digressioni storiche che, se allungano un po’ il brodo, sono comunque necessarie a inquadrare i tempi e le psicologie in cui si svolge l’azione. Il discorso contrario si può fare invece per la sciacquatura dei panni in Arno: se accettabili nella narrazione, i toscanismi diventano fastidiosi in bocca a dei contadini (o anche a dei borghesi, se è per questo) lombardi – e pensare che lo scrittore in casa parlava in dialetto, chissà che avrebbe detto della lingua nei romanzi di Montalbano… In ogni caso, il bilancio resta largamente positivo, sottolineando il valore di un libro costretto da decenni a scontare l’impopolarità originata dall’imposizione scolastica: ciò non toglie, però, che il padre Dante della Divina Commedia resti di un altro pianeta (forse anche perché la poesia non invecchia, la prosa sì).(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Smcleish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally published on my blog here in September 1998.

The Bethrothed is probably the most famous work of Italian literature not by Dante Alighieri or Petrarch. The introduction to this Penguin Classics edition compares its influence on Italian culture to an English scene where Charles Dickens wrote only one novel and Henry Fielding and William Makepeace Thackeray had never existed. Its revision by Manzoni into the Tuscan dialect was a major turning point in the establishment of that dialect as...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Kristine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow, this is an amazing book. It is also very involved. I love all of Manzoni's depictions of human nature through his characters and thought he had some good insights as well. The story line is beautiful and so good and moral. This book is so much more, though. It also delves into much of Italian history and since this was my first ever introduction to Italian history, it was a lot to digest, but also extremely interesting. Apparently the Italians study this book all through their school years,...more

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May 13, 2011 Jane Hoppe rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni [Spoiler Alert: Review tells the ending.]

Manzoni’s 1827 historic novel of epic scope is a classic in Italy and required reading for Italian students. Because of its universal themes and well-researched depiction of early 17th century life in Lombardy, this novel deserves to be required reading for history students everywhere.

This story poignantly portrays interplay between church and state, widespread famine, plague, politics of tyrants, and territorial wars i...more The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni [Spoiler Alert: Review tells the ending.]

Manzoni’s 1827 historic novel of epic scope is a classic in Italy and required reading for Italian students. Because of its universal themes and well-researched depiction of early 17th century life in Lombardy, this novel deserves to be required reading for history students everywhere.

This story poignantly portrays interplay between church and state, widespread famine, plague, politics of tyrants, and territorial wars in ways that helped me understand what these peasants went through better than a history text could have. Talking points in history class after reading The Betrothed might be: The incestuous influence of clergy on politicians and vice versa is why we don’t want a church-state. The self-sacrifice of the Capuchin monks shows us why society is better when people follow Jesus Christ’s examples of grace and truth. The lawless terror of petty tyrants and their bravos is why rule of law protects us—and is precious enough to be protected. Compare the courage and cowardice of each main character and describe the qualities most important in a ruler/leader. What is government’s role in preventing famine and plague? What is government’s role in managing famine and plague? Discuss the difference between doing what’s right and doing what one feels like doing.

At its core, The Betrothed is a love story between Renzo and Lucia. Their marriage is thwarted by a local tyrant and cowardly priest, and they must flee their home village. Their separation and ensuing trials wind through epic historic events of Lombardy in the late 1620s. Comprehending 700 pages of Manzoni’s dense descriptions took perseverance, which really put me in protagonist Renzo’s shoes for his whole hike through many troubles, toils, and snares to finally marry his betrothed. As Lucia revealed steady, faith-filled character by how she responded to seclusion, betrayal, abduction, and plague, I felt she and hot-headed Renzo were mismatched. Manzoni redeemed Renzo in the end by listing some of the lessons he had learned, so that tempered my unease with the match.

The Betrothed is a good story and fascinating book.
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Oct 10, 2010 Annabelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Manzoni’s classic read by Italian high school students, and is famous for centralizing the Italian language and focalizing energy for Italy to unify into a nation. It is a long book, the translation I read was 719 pages. As Doina, in our book club said, Manzoni is brilliant at creating cinematic scenes. He draws careful, affectionate descriptions of village life in northern Italy in the 1600’s.
It is about two star crossed loves, Renzo and Lucia, simple village people, the man being a silk weaver...more

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May 21, 2010 Joselito Honestly and Brilliantly rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is part history and part fiction. The setting is Milan (Italy) sometime in the 17th century. It is said to be universally recognized as the greatest of all Italian novels and is often compared to Tolstoy's "War and Peace." It is also very, very long and contains a lot: a love story, tragedy, suspense, humor, history, war, politics, business, religion, superstition, philosophy, famine, food riots, plague, etc.

Remember my review of the Indian behemoth, "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth? A chara...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Spock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

agli studenti delle scuole superiori.
L'ho ripreso molti anni dopo il liceo e la noia che mi aveva ispirato allora e' stata in parte vinta.
Chiariamo non e' nemmeno lontanamente al livello di autori dello stesso secolo in altri paesi (Bronte, Poe, Dostoevsky, Hoffman, Zola, ... solo per citare i primi che mi vengono in mente).
Solo questo raffronto ci farebbe ( o meglio ci dovrebbe fare) piangere calde lacrime di imbarazzo.
Tuttavia immaginando di non conoscere i riferimenti, ci sono diversi pregi n...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Bryan Szabo rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book caught me decidedly off guard. The first 300 pages read like a conventional morality tale, full of narrow escapes, virginal heroines, dastardly villains, and saintly protectors galore. However, Manzoni's tone changes dramatically as he introduces into his historically situated narrative the plague that--forgive me--carted off scores of thousands in early-eighteenth-century Milan. The pathos that runs through the final third of the novel makes it a much more uncomfortable, and therefore...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Xon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the those great classics of literature that I believe everyone should read. Even if we lose important facets in translation, this is a masterpiece of literature--IMHO. Manzoni gives us a view into the lives and times of a peasant couple caught up in turmoil of 17th century Italy, with its political, social and religious machinations. Manzoni's strength is demonstrated in his characters and his story-telling abilities. I feel like I am there in the Lake Como region, walking and tal...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: italian-literature, kindle, free-kindle-books, read-in-translation, historical-fiction, read-in-2013

The story takes place in a small village in Lombardy, in the 17th century. Lorenzo and Lucia are two young lovers wishing to marry, but unfortunately for them, a powerful local nobleman, Don Rodrigo, is determined that he will have Lucia, and he sends out his thugs to intimidate the village priest. Lorenzo and Lucia devise a scheme to trick the cowardly priest into marrying them anyway, but they fail, and are forced to flee. Lucia flees to a convent, where she is soon betrayed, while Lorenzo fle...more The story takes place in a small village in Lombardy, in the 17th century. Lorenzo and Lucia are two young lovers wishing to marry, but unfortunately for them, a powerful local nobleman, Don Rodrigo, is determined that he will have Lucia, and he sends out his thugs to intimidate the village priest. Lorenzo and Lucia devise a scheme to trick the cowardly priest into marrying them anyway, but they fail, and are forced to flee. Lucia flees to a convent, where she is soon betrayed, while Lorenzo flees to Milan, where he gets mixed up in a rebellion, is arrested, escapes, and must flee again. It will be nearly two years before the couple is reunited, and in the meantime there is abduction, a miraculous conversion, a Terribly Serious Vow, not to mention war, the pillaging of northern Italy, and pestilence.

The writing is longish and old-styled, with paragraphs going on for pages, all to explain politics, historical events, the working of the characters’ minds, their backstories, and sometimes just the landscape. Yawn, but that’s the classics for you. The good news is that you can skim through a lot of this.

The opening chapters were not the best entertainment, and I wondered what I was doing reading this book. The writer was so prissy and evasive when handling what is a very plain sexual topic, and Lucia was such a wax doll at this point, I had to wonder if the author actually knew any real females. And in fact I kept hoping that Rodrigo would get his hands on Lucia and the whole book would suddenly transform into a good old-fashioned bodice-ripping romance. But no. Of course not.

So why FOUR stars instead of just one? Well… I must admit, the second half of the book was utterly, utterly charming and sad and sweet, and I can be a sucker for that kind of thing. Especially the end, you know, when a book makes you cry like this one did.

Here’s something that made me laugh: When the new neighbors of the young couple see Lucia for the first time - this woman about whom they have heard so much - they remark that they were expecting someone beautiful. And here’s something else: When asked about his adventure, Lorenzo says he learned not to keep his hand on the knocker of a door when the inhabitants of the place are all crazy. I can tell you that this is good learning!

And the moral of the story is this: Most of our misfortunes are our own fault, while some misfortunes just seem to happen anyway, but in either case, place your trust in God. This will soften the bad effects of misfortune, and it will prepare your mind for a better life later on. Good moral to live by, if you ask me!
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Nov 02, 2009 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: italy, classics

It seems that just about everybody recognizes this as the greatest Italian novel, and I agree that it's excellent. But I do think my expectations were a little high for this one. I may have given it five stars if I weren't expecting so much.

Published in 1827, I Promessi Sposi takes place 200 years earlier in Spanish-controlled Lombardia in Northern Italy. The novel tracks the fate of a poor engaged couple that is prevented from marrying by a thuggish, libidinous noble who has an eye for the brid...more It seems that just about everybody recognizes this as the greatest Italian novel, and I agree that it's excellent. But I do think my expectations were a little high for this one. I may have given it five stars if I weren't expecting so much.

Published in 1827, I Promessi Sposi takes place 200 years earlier in Spanish-controlled Lombardia in Northern Italy. The novel tracks the fate of a poor engaged couple that is prevented from marrying by a thuggish, libidinous noble who has an eye for the bride-to-be. When the couple's cowardly priest hasn't the nerve to perform his duty in the face of the noble's threats, the couple seeks help from a cleric known for sticking his neck out for the poor and downtrodden. The contrasting levels of dedication, faith, and empathy between these two priests delineate many of the major themes of the novel.

The fate of the young betrothed is further complicated by political upheaval in Milan and then a devastating plague. It is Manzoni's treatment of the political climate and the horrors of the plague that really make the book, much like it was Dickens's graphic depictions of Jacobin excesses that really made A Tale of Two Cities. Where Manzoni is not as deft as Dickens is in weaving the history into the narrative. Manzoni writes the historical sections as historical sections, apologetically interrupting the flow of the story and even repeatedly citing historical authorities right in the text. It makes for fascinating reading, but Manzoni could have easily woven the historical detail right in with the story to greater effect.

But the novel's ending is very good once Manzoni takes up the thread of his story again. It is a deeply Christian, deeply Catholic book about the force of faith, the enduring power of love, and the nature of personal promises to loved ones and to God. The themes are developed beautifully for the most part, but there are a couple of characters whose profound changes of heart would have been much more effective with a little more character development.

On the whole, a great book.(less)

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Feb 18, 2013 David Redden rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved The Betrothed. I suppose that's not surprising since it's considered the greatest piece of Italian literature ever, but I had never heard of it before I picked it up as part of my tour through the Harvard Classics. I'm so glad I read it.

It's hard to explain what's so great about it. The characters are uncomplicated, but likable and real and easy to root for. The grand epic style, similar to a Dumas novel, totally works notwithstanding the uncomplicated plot. Catholicism plays a big role,...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Julia Carpenter rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had never heard of this historical novel, first published in 1827, called "the most widely read work in the Italian language." If you have an interest in classic literary works, or I should say, the desire to be personally acquainted with books which have made an impact in the world, then I would recommend this novel to you. It is NOT plot-driven, it is NOT a page-turner, and there are pages and pages of disquisition. But I never once felt the urge to close it and never open it again. I was su...more

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May 21, 2013 Sally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This book was extremely difficult to get into, and I almost gave up. I had never heard of it before it was on Dempsey's reading list for this year. But we both persevered, and I am glad we did. The book gave me a better understanding of life in that time and place. Set in Italy in 1628, it tells about a couple separated by various trials and tribulations--some natural, some man-made. The narrator interrupts often in amusing asides, and made several comments in the last chapter about how he was c...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Tony rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was first drawn to this book after hearing the Verdi requiem. Who could possibly have inspired such transcendant music? I discovered that the book played a, if not the vital role in uniting Italy under one dialect. So I went into it with some trepidation. Could it live up to its reputation? For me it most certainly did, but in fact not because it was a "classic" but because it turned out to be a rollicking good read, that entertained and informed. The interjections of history were fine by me b...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Plucino rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

tutto quello che è establishment, tradizione, ragionevolezza, rispetto... AL FUOCO

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Mar 25, 2013 Marc L rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: italian-literature

Breed uitgesponnen verhaallijn, soms lange tijd onderbroken voor parenthese over een of andere figuur of historische beschrijving; dan weer daverende actie. Opmerkelijke psychologische diepgang. Treffend anticlericale opstelling: Don Abbondio wordt echt in zijn blootje gezet, maar daar staan dan weer de kardinaal en Don Cristoforo tegenover. Ook de voorzienigheid speelt nog een zekere rol: het godsdienstige wordt zeker niet belachelijk gemaakt. Voor het overig "verlichte" ideeën: aanklacht socia...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Philip Lane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Wonderful tour-de-force of 17th century Italy with a dramatic personal story set into an exciting historical context. I loved the language - not pseudo-archaic but contemporary to the publication in the early 19th century. I found echoes here of the current situation in Greece regarding the corruption and the public reaction to it. There are historical events such as the bread riots and the outbreak of plague in Milan as well as the thwarted romance between Renzo and Lucia. It is a long book but...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Cindy Marsch rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love to discover classics I have never heard of! This Italian novel written in the 19th Century about the 17th Century opens the world of Italy--politics, plague, war, and daily life, with real personalities suffering or causing suffering in all those realms. Threaded through the observations of the times is the story of a young couple who want to marry but are held back by wickedness, cowardice, and the casualties of their world. It includes a wonderful story of how one man's conversion can b...more

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Jan 01, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Betrothed is rightfully rated as a treasure in World Literature. Both a wonderful story and a historical documentary set in the vicinity of Milan between 1628-1631, the story line is that of star crossed lovers; but oh the obstacles they faced! I picked it up because I recently discovered that my ancestors survived the 1630 Plague of Milan. But the story of the Great Plague (footnoted with Manzoni's research of contemporary accounts) is only one section of this incredibly rich novel. I thoro...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: narrativa, classico, romanzi-corriere

I promessi sposi è un romanzo storico di Alessandro Manzoni. E' considerato uno dei più importanti romanzi della letteratura italiana, ed è per questo che ne viene obbligata la lettura nelle scuole dell'obbligo. Fu edito in una prima versione nel 1827; rivisto in seguito dallo stesso autore, soprattutto nel linguaggio, fu ripubblicato nella versione definitiva fra il 1840 e il 1841.

Ambientato dal 1628 al 1630 in Lombardia durante l'occupazione spagnola, fu il primo esempio di romanzo storico del...more I promessi sposi è un romanzo storico di Alessandro Manzoni. E' considerato uno dei più importanti romanzi della letteratura italiana, ed è per questo che ne viene obbligata la lettura nelle scuole dell'obbligo. Fu edito in una prima versione nel 1827; rivisto in seguito dallo stesso autore, soprattutto nel linguaggio, fu ripubblicato nella versione definitiva fra il 1840 e il 1841.

Ambientato dal 1628 al 1630 in Lombardia durante l'occupazione spagnola, fu il primo esempio di romanzo storico della letteratura italiana. Il romanzo si basa su una rigorosa ricerca storica e gli episodi del XVII secolo, come ad esempio le vicende della Monaca di Monza e la grande peste del 1629-1631, si fondano tutti su documenti d'archivio e cronache dell'epoca.

Diciamo subito che secondo me la scuola italiana è riuscita in un'impresa veramente complessa, che ha dell'incredibile: far odiare a generazioni di studenti un buon romanzo, non certo un capolavoro, ma un buon testo ben scritto, ben documentato e in alcune parti addirittura avvincente. "Fai l'analisi psiclogica del personaggio", "introduzione della figura della monaca di Monza", "Analisi del personaggio dell'Innominato" e via dicendo, hanno ridotto i poveri studenti a bistrattare una storia che se letta come tutti gli altri romanzi, si fa leggere.

Quello che proprio non mi va a genio di questo libro è punto primo il significato profondo dell'opera suggerito dal Manzoni stesso, ossia: con la fede in Dio tutti i problemi e le disgrazie si possono superare. La Provvidenza è presente dalla prima pagina del romanzo, fino alla fine. Questo va contro le mie idee personali e ciò mi ammorba all'inverosimile. L'altra cosa che mi ha sempre angustiato nella lettura è il personaggio di Lucia, so che la figura femminile del'800 è ben diversa da quella attuale, ma questa donna non fa che pregare e piangere o implorare per tutto il santissimo libro. Pochi personaggi mi hanno ispirato un odio così profondo.

So che bisognerebbe dare un voto molto più alto a questo libro, ma la scuola è riuscito a farmelo odiare dal profondo e il lettore obbiettivo che è in me proprio non riesce a convincermi del contrario. Dunque tre stellette caro il mio Manzoni, mi dispiace ma non prendertela con me.(less)

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Jun 25, 2011 Lobstergirl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Whitey Bulger

Shelves: own, fiction

If you can get through the first 100 pages of The Betrothed, which are entirely plot, extremely operatic, and full of bumbling intrigues, I suspect you will ultimately find it rewarding. It concerns two young peasants from a village near Lake Como in 1628, Lorenzo and Lucia, who are engaged. But a local scoundrel, the wealthy and tyrannical Don Rodrigo, has taken a shine to Lucia and has his ruffians threaten the priest who is supposed to conduct the wedding, so the wedding is foiled, and Lucia...more If you can get through the first 100 pages of The Betrothed, which are entirely plot, extremely operatic, and full of bumbling intrigues, I suspect you will ultimately find it rewarding. It concerns two young peasants from a village near Lake Como in 1628, Lorenzo and Lucia, who are engaged. But a local scoundrel, the wealthy and tyrannical Don Rodrigo, has taken a shine to Lucia and has his ruffians threaten the priest who is supposed to conduct the wedding, so the wedding is foiled, and Lucia and Lorenzo both flee in different directions for their personal safety. Manzoni interrupts the plot often to give us historical background - on wars, political intrigues, ecclesiastical happenings, famine and pestilence, sometimes quoting historians directly. His tone shifts between comical and tragic; some characters are clownish, others entirely pure of heart, some well-meaning but foolish, some wholly evil. It reminded me somewhat of Candide, although its occasional satirical tone never approaches the pungency of Voltaire's.

I wanted to know more about Gertrude, the mysterious Nun of Monza, one of the more fascinating characters. Her story should have been more developed, (view spoiler)

Archibald Colquhoun's 1959 translation feels just a little off in places - Lucia referring to her mother as "Mummy," men calling younger men "sonny," a reference to babies' nappies. He informs us that the first English translation, of 1828, was horrendous, and the ones that followed throughout the century not much better.

Manzoni sounds like kind of an odd man; Colquhoun's excellent preface tells us that he hated meeting new people, was terrified of crowds, would order his servants to drive away birds in the trees under his windows, and weighed his clothes several times a day. He "was so forgetful that he would quote his own writings, thinking he was quoting others." As for the novel, "for Italy it is all Scott, Dickens, and Thackeray rolled into one volume," though "its spirit is perhaps nearer Tolstoy."(less)

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Mar 09, 2008 facebrooker rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: poca gente

Recommended to facebrooker by: Profesor Ucelay

Para los italianos I Promessi Sposi es algo así como el Poema del Mío Cid para los españoles y mexicanos: un "MUST", se lee desde pequeños y bueno lo que les puedo decir es que me parece excesivamente aburrida y con unos personajes bastante débiles sin embargo, es interesante que el personaje más fuerte y principal de todos sea "la Providencia" es decir la decisión suprema de Dios... también es rescatable la narración tan acurada de la peste de Milán de 1630 que ha generado muchos artículos espe...more

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About Alessandro Manzoni

Considered the 'founder' of modern Italian language.

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“I would really like, in fact, to be born again in another two hundred years' time.” — 5 people liked it

“Certainly the heart has always something to tell about the future to those who listen to it. But what does the heart know? Scarce a little of what has already happened. ” — 3 people liked it

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