"The first English translation in more than fifty years of Alessandro
Manzoni's masterpiece, a work of foundational Italian literature on par
with the Divine Comedy and the Decameron."--The Wall Street Journal
"An exemplary historical novel" (The New Yorker) from the father of
modern Italian literature, The Betrothed receives its first new
English-language translation in fifty years, hailed as "a landmark
literary occasion" by Jhumpa Lahiri.
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker
The Betrothed is a cornerstone of Italian culture, language, and
literature. Published in its final form in 1842, The Betrothed has
inspired generations of Italian readers and writers. Giuseppe Verdi
composed his majestic Requiem Mass in honor of Manzoni. Italo Calvino
called the novel "a classic that has never ceased shaping reality in
Italy" while Umberto Eco praised its author as a "most subtle critic and
analyst of languages." The Betrothed has been celebrated by Primo Levi
and Natalia Ginzburg, and is one of Pope Francis's favorite books. But,
until now, it has remained relatively unknown to English readers.
In the fall of 1628, two young lovers are forced to flee their village
on the shores of Lake Como after a powerful lord prevents their
marriage, plunging them into the maelstrom of history. Manzoni draws on
actual people and events to create an unforgettable fresco of Italian
life and society. In this greatest of historical novels, he takes the
reader on a journey through the Spanish occupation of Milan, the ravages
of war, class tensions, social injustice, religious faith, and a plague
that devastates northern Italy. But within Manzoni's epic tale, readers
will also hear powerful echoes of our own day.
Michael F. Moore's dynamic new translation of The Betrothed brings to
life Manzoni's timeless literary masterpiece.
