The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi (Penguin Classics)

Extraordinary cast of characters involved in an astonishing sequence of adventures.All of this was set in motion by a young couples desire to wed. Along the way we get a good look at the ways of late medieval Italy under Spanish domination, including a harrowing account of the ravages of plague. There is nonetheless a great deal of humor in the workI was most impressed with the variety of characters who appear, wreak their havoc, and then on to the next adventure. The principal characters stumble their way along by persistence and dumb luck, and you somehow expect that they will eventually find their way to fulfillment. Meanwhile every variety of scoundrel and charlatan impedes their way, but ultimately fails.This is a truly great work of literature, and should be better known..

It's a re-packing of a previous English edition -- and looks a bit dowdy.The text is charming funny send-up of old world ways.

I have read quite a lot of "classic" literature in my time, purely for enjoyment. I have to say this is one of the very finest (I would put it in my top 5) works of great literature I have ever read.It is incredibly absorbing, allows you to enter the period in a way you will understand it. The descriptions of Milan during a plague outbreak are totally convincing.Yes, it's "religious" (but in a humanitarian way) as well as historical. I'm nominally an English Anglican (= Episcopalian), but not particularly religious, and read the book, all in one go (a major achievement because it's long) in a hotel in Asia. I just couldn't put it down (a wonderful rarity that book lovers will well understand). Had there been a Catholic priest in the room next door, I well might have asked for instruction into "the faith"; it was that moving!Please read this book and help to make it as well known outside Italy as it is within (it is the equivalent of Dante to an Italian, or Shakespeare to us). Also read The Leopard by Lampedusa (terrific film, too, with Burt lancaster) if you're interested in fictionalisation of Italian history.

The Holy Father said in a recent interview that he has read the book ( in Italian, of course) three times AND it is on his night stand to read again. I got the kindle version and have read 75% of it. It is most illuminating and I can see how it would appeal to the Holy Father since it shows great concern for the poor. By the way a friend I met via Foculare is from Italy (Torino) not far from the scenes in the book. He said that Manzoni is a highly regarded author in all of Italy. He has read the book as well only he was surprised that it was out in an English, Kindle version. Anyone with a compassionate heart will love this book. God bless you.

This seems to be a kind of foundational bit of reading if you are interested in 19th century Italy.

Though written more than 150 years ago, this classic Italian novel reads from a very modern perspective. The only problem that might chaff some moderns is that, in the style of Dickens, it throws into the mix everything including sometimes the kitchen sink. If you wish to get an accurate perspective of an 17th Century Northern Italian (very, very different from our own age), this book is superb. The story revolves around the persons of a "betrothed" peasant couple but the real drama and excitement is in the characters who interact with them: a village priest, an abbess, a cardinal, an aloof predatory aristocrat, etc.

This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I know that's alot to say but it's true. I'm traveling to Israel soon with a group from my Catholic Church and Fr. Martin's descriptions of places that I care about and especially his meditations on them which shared his own spiritual journey are very special. I am a little familiar with Fr. Martin's ability to write and also to share his own spiritual journey, but he has outdone himself here.

I bought this before a trip to Milan and lived in the world of the book for almost a year.

One of the two great classics of Italian literature (the other being Dante's Divine Comedy), the adventures of the fictional characters are played out against the backdrop of real historical events in 17th-century Italy in a way which resembles (but pre-dates) Tolstoy. The narrative moves smartly along but allows space for some vivid depictions of the war, plague and famine which afflicted the region at the time. There is also plenty of humour, particularly in the early part of the book, and the author's wry comments on the action are delightful, e.g. 'The destruction of sifting machines, the wrecking of bakeries, and the mobbing of bakers are not really the best methods of ensuring long life to a plentiful supply of bread. But that is one of those philosophical subtleties which a crowd can never grasp.' Fluent and unobtrusive translation.

Saw this book in a flat I was renting in Milan hence had a nostalgic value for me. It is a good story, quite light hearted and an easy read if a bit long winded, in the style of Victor Hugo and others of that ilk....

Good cover design, but a cheaply printed paperback. A strain to read, close/small print on cheap quality paper. Lettering lacks clarity in places. If this is what you expect from a paperback then it's okay.

Beautifully written .

Comecei a ler pela peste, e fiquei até o fim para saber se ficam juntos no final. The Betrothed/ I promessi sposi é um romance histórico, no qual a história é tratada com respeito. Mazoni fez uma pesquisa profunda, e traz relatos detalhados sobre acontecimentos históricos do começo do século XVII, no qual está situado a narrativa. Há inclusive citações de historiadores e notas de rodapé com referências bibliográficas. E essa é a parte mais lenta do romance, a leitura é lenta, há muitos detalhes e fica meio cansativa.O melhor mesmo é a narrativa da história do casal protagonista, Renzo e Lucia, cujo casamento, logo no começo, é a ameaçado pelo poderoso e mal caráter Don Rodrigo, o que os obriga a fugir, indo cada um para uma cidade. Ela se refugia num convento em Monza, onde é contada então a história da Freira de Monza, que a recebe e protege. Mais tarde, será sequestrada por um sujeito impiedoso cujo o nome o narrador se recusa a pronunciar, e ele passa a ser chamado apenas de “the Unnamed”, cuja vida terá uma reviravolta, que refletirá na trama. Ele via para Milão, onde se depara com uma revolta popular, e desperta-lhe certa consciência social.A peste entra em cena no quarto final do livro, por volta da página 500, quando ainda faltam pouco mais de 200 para acabar, e tem um papel fundamental no destino das personagens. É impressionante como algumas coisas não mudaram nesses anos todos. Os “médicos” dá época sugerem que são outras doenças, e o descaso é total. Conforme aumentam os números de mortos, resolvem fazer uma procissão, o que, no dia seguinte, faz catapultar o número de casos. Outras pessoas são acusadas de infectar outras propositalmente. Nesse sentido, foi uma leitura bastante elucidativa também.