The Betrothed

By Alessandro Manzoni, Bruce Penman (translator),

Book cover of The Betrothed

Book description

Set in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s, The Betrothed tells the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee, they are then cruelly separated, and must face many dangers…

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Italy

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Betrothed as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

C.L.R. Peterson

Author

This book transported me to the shores of Lake Como shortly before I trekked there, but in a far-distant era—1628.

Manzoni's vivid portrait of the culture—from the landscape to each character's innermost thoughts—allowed me to time travel, giving me friends to root for and villains to hate. The Betrothed gave me a new appreciation of ordinary people's struggles, a more nuanced view of the Roman Church's role in their lives, and a better understanding of the political realities they had to face.

The lengthy but colorful story reveals the years-long fallout of a single evil deed and the positive effects…

From C.L.R.'s 3 favorite reads in 2023.