Manzoni's THE BETROTHED (I Promessi Sposi, 1824) is a cornerstone of Italian culture, language and literature and, arguably, the best Italian novel ever written. In this historical novel, set in Northern Italy, 1628-30, Manzoni takes us on a journey, following two star-crossed lovers, through the Spanish occupation of Milan, the ravages of war, class conflicts, social injustice, religious faith, and a plague that devastates the country. As Jhumpa Lahiri has said, "Manzoni's novel - both emotionally gripping and coolly objective, both extremely spirited and deadly serious - will enthrall you and sober you in turns." In Michael Moore's dynamic new translation, we will hear powerful echoes of our own age.
1. THE BETROTHED, trans. Moore, pp. 651-660 [historical characters and background]; Chaps. 1-3
2. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 4-9
3. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 10-15
4. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 16-21
5. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 22-27
6. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 28-33
7. THE BETROTHED, Chaps. 34-end
Alessandro Manzoni, THE BETROTHED, trans. Michael F. Moore (Modern Library, 2002)