Promessi sposi in English
"The Betrothed" (Italian: "I promessi sposi") is a historical novel written by
Alessandro Manzoni, first published in 1827. The story is set in the Duchy of
Milan in 1628, during the years of Spanish rule, and deals with a variety of
themes, including the illusory nature of political power, the injustice of legal
systems, and the strength of love.
The novel begins with Renzo and Lucia, a couple living in a village near Lake
Como, who are planning to wed on 8 November 1628. However, their plans are
thwarted when the parish priest, Don Abbondio, is warned by two thugs not to
perform the marriage, because the local baron (Don Rodrigo) has forbidden it.
Renzo and Lucia seek advice from a lawyer and a respected Capuchin friar
named Fra Cristoforo, but their situation remains unresolved.
The novel is known for its extraordinary description of the plague that struck
Milan around 1630, and for its keen insights into the human mind. Manzoni
revised the novel's language for its republication in 1842, cleansing it of many
Lombard regionalisms. The novel is widely regarded as the most famous and
widely read novel in the Italian language.
"The Betrothed" (Italian: "I promessi sposi") is a historical novel written by
Alessandro Manzoni, first published in 1827. The story is set in the Duchy of
Milan in 1628, during the years of Spanish rule, and deals with a variety of
themes, including the illusory nature of political power, the injustice of legal
systems, and the strength of love.
The novel begins with Renzo and Lucia, a couple living in a village near Lake
Como, who are planning to wed on 8 November 1628. However, their plans are
thwarted when the parish priest, Don Abbondio, is warned by two thugs not to
perform the marriage, because the local baron (Don Rodrigo) has forbidden it.
Renzo and Lucia seek advice from a lawyer and a respected Capuchin friar
named Fra Cristoforo, but their situation remains unresolved.
The novel is known for its extraordinary description of the plague that struck
Milan around 1630, and for its keen insights into the human mind. Manzoni
revised the novel's language for its republication in 1842, cleansing it of many
Lombard regionalisms. The novel is widely regarded as the most famous and
widely read novel in the Italian language.
