The Betrothed

Translated with an Introduction by Bruce Penman

Manzoni's masterpiece, praised by Goethe and Lamartine, is set in turbulent early - seventeenth - century Italy, specifically in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s.

Reflecting Manzoni's preoccupations with the suffering that is caused by tyranny in any form, the plot is think with noblemen who use their power to flout law and justice, wreaking havoc in the lives of those who are too weak or too poor to protect themselves. At the center of this turmoil are Renzo and Lucia, two lovers from a village near Lecco, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee from the villainous Don Rodrigo, they are then cruelly separated and each faces many dangers - violent riots, famine, imprisonment and plague - until they are united again. They also encounter a variety of people on their adventures: the mysterious Nun of Monza, whose strange manner hides a disturbing tale; the fiery Father Cristoforo, a man with a violent past and a passion for justice; and the sinister Unnamed, the supreme tyrant.

A vigorous portrayal of enduring passion, The Betrothed's exploration of love, power and faith presents a whirling panorama of seventeenth-century Italian life and is one of the greatest European historical novels. Bruce Penman's excellent translation captures all the verve, color and pace of this dramatic masterpiece.

The cover shows a detail from 'Piovano-Arletto's Practical Joke' by Baldassare Franceschini, in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence (photo: Bisonte).

Ficção / Literatura Estrangeira / Romance