The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi

Count Alessandro Manzoni was born in Milan, Italy, March 7, 1785. Manzoni's masterpiece, "I Promessi Sposi" (1827), has the English title, "The Betrothed." Pope Francis has read this novel three times, and to this day keeps a copy of it on his desk and plans to red it again. It is an historical novel. The scene is laid in Lombardi, Italy between 1628 and 1631, amidst war, famine, and plague. The plot deals with the thwarting of the love of two peasants by a local tyrant. It includes an elaborate description of the plague's devastated Milan in 1630 and the famine and bread riots preceding it.This novel has taken its place as the most distinguished novel of modern Italy, and his been translated into nearly all the literary languages. It is mandatory reading in Italian high schools. Furthermore, it has taken its place among the great novels of the world, not merely for its admirable descriptions of Italian life in the 17th century, but still more for its faithful and moving presentation of human experience and emotion. Manzoni is a keen observer of the human heart. It was the first Italian historical novel and has been said to be the Italian equivalent of "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. Manzoni did a lot of historical research in preparation for writing this novel.The plot of this love story is simple as is the action. The beauty and originality of the work comes in the development of memorable cast of characters. The author is a skillful painter of individual portraits. Manzoni shows great knowledge of the human heart and the mysterious workings of God. The themes of the novel are Christian redemption, forgiveness, and "All things work together for good for those who love God."The book is made up of 37 chapters and 338 pages. The story begins with two men who meet in the street fighting over silly pride--one man kills the other. The one who does this repents for what he has done. To make up for his wrong doing, he joins a monastery--and spends the rest of his life serving the poor. His name is Friar Cristoforo.Don Abbondio, the cowardly parish priest, refuses to wed Lucia and Renzo, as promised, because of the threat to his life by Don Rodrigo, the town bully, who has taken a fancy to Lucia. This cowardly act by Don Abbondio sets off a series of misadventures and sufferings which make up the rest of the story.Eventually, Lucia is kidnapped by Don Rodrigo's men and is held in the palace of an unnamed villain. Lucia is in such terror that she makes a vow to God that she will remain a virgin if she ever is rescued. Her heartfelt prayers and pleas for mercy lead to the conversion of the unnamed villain who then spends the rest of his life doing good for the townspeople. He showers his kindness on Lucia and her mother Agnese.Renzo runs away to Milan during a famine and gets himself in trouble for eating stolen loaves of bread he finds on the street. He rails against the authorities for this shortage of bread. He barely avoids being hung by the authorities. He has to go and live in in exile away from his homeland for a couple of years. He is a weaver and plies his trade in his new location.The plague strikes Milan and the surrounding areas and is devastating. Don Rodrigo dies from the plague in an awful way. Friar Cristoforo absolves Lucia of her vow. Lucia weds Renzo. Friar Cristoforo also dies in caring for people with the plague.Three priests are portrayed in the novel. It is interesting to contrast them: the cowardly and comfortable parish priest, Don Abbondio, the sublime figure of Friar Cristoforo, and the holy and kind Archbishop of Milan, Federico Bormeo.Clearly, I plan to read this great work again to once more appreciate its characters and themes.

I did not realize this was self published version. It has a ridiculous lay out with tiny font and words running to the edge of the pages. The translation is poor. It is junky all around. I was tricked into buying this by the pretty cover. My mistake.

Signor Manzoni used the trope of a thwarted wedding couple to depict the culture and ethos of feudal Milan under the Spanish rule. It's very, very long (don't believe the e-book annotation of 380 pages). Manzoni's lengthy diversions into the life and times of the lords, the peasants, the church and the clergy, the armies and wars, the famine and the plague consume much more of the book than the story itself. For someone planning a visit to Italy - even if it's Tuscany, rather than Milan - or someone with particular interest in the Middle Ages, it may be well worth the time.

I loved reading this book - the writing style and story line were equally appealing. This is required reading for students in Italy because it represents the creation of the Italian language itself. Why it is not required reading in the United States is a mystery to me. It is also possible to visit the area in Lecco, Italy where the story begins and ends. If you visit there, you will find yourself immersed in the places that inspired the book. So although fiction, it is a book with the pulse and spirit of a real place. A true classic.

I wish I had read this much earlier in life (I'm now 70). I would have learned much sooner to be a better human being. The beginning was quite challenging but about half way through I couldn't put my Kindle down. I spent 6 hours each day for the last two day to finish reading it as I was 'hooked'.After reading I followed with researching the 30 years war (8,000,00 died) and the bubonic plagued that decimated city after city.I understand that Pope Francis asked engaged couples to read the novel for edification before marriage. If that isn't a testament I don't know what is.Its a slog but well worth it - like any good book.

The font size is so small it makes my eyes hurt to read this

The original book in Italian is a wonderful book. I would give it 5 stars +. The translation I have, however in the Kindle edition is old and stilted. It served my purpose, but for anyone who wants to read the book in English, I would look for a better, more modern translation. I have seen an English version in the Everyman series, that I believe may be better. The best solution is to get the book in Italian, if you can read Italian.

The novel is like a tremendous tapestry that one sees sprouting and interweaving in all directions from simple strands introduced in the first scene. An epic emerges from the inside out, as it were-- and not from the deeds of a national hero but of a peasant couple who wish to marry. Through the simple young folks adventures and misadventures, the reader learns not only a lot about life in late-Renaissance Italy but links many chief features of those days to our own days in the early 21st century: Nature and politics impose many pressures on human nature, which in response sometimes resists, sometimes overcomes and sometimes warps under those pressures, as the characters show in this justly acclaimed work.

Bellissimo libro peccato per la copertina flessibile molto delicata e sottile

Very poor quality download. Unreadable. Poorly translated. There must be a fault in the program that translates from the original text.

this book was part of my reading for letterature in Italy, I've enjoyed reading it again in English.......it's part of my country history. silvana wood

Tutto bene, nessun problema, spedizione pronta, imballaggio buono, prezzo ragionevole però libro non troppo ben tradotto. Pretendere recensioni OBBLIGATORIAMENTE più lunghe è assurdo e scortese: spesso bastano due parole.

English translation of an Italian 19th century masterpiece. Ideal gift for a wedding on the Como Lake smelling at the future while keeping strong ties in the past.