The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
World of Books

At World of Books, you’ll find millions of preloved reads at great prices, from bestsellers to hidden gems. Every book you buy saves money and helps reduce waste, so you can read more for less while giving stories a second life.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free US shipping over $15
  • Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
  • Millions of affordable books
  • Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!

The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni

"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.

Alessandro Manzoni (Milan, 7 Marzo 1785 – Milan, 22 Maggio 1873) was an Italian writer, poet, and dramatist. Considered one of the greatest Romanziers of all time for his celebrated novel I promessi sposi, caposaldo della letteratura italiana, Manzoni ebbe the main merit of having laid the foundations for the contemporary novel and of having thus supported the Italian language unity, based on the scia of that morally and civilly impegnated letteratura.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780812978810
Title The Betrothed
Author Alessandro Manzoni
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Random House USA Inc
Year published 2024-09-03
Number of pages 704
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.