The Betrothed (Manzoni novel)

The Betrothed

Frontispiece of 1842 edition
Author	Alessandro Manzoni
Original title	I promessi sposi
Translator	Charles Swan
Language	Italian
Genre	Historical novel
Set in	Lombardy, 1628–30
Publication date	1827 (first version) 1842 (revised version) (Title pages give wrong dates because of delays in publication)
Publication place	Lombardy–Venetia
Published in English	1828
Media type	Print (hardback and paperback)
Pages	720
Dewey Decimal	853.72
LC Class	PQ4714.A2
Original text	I promessi sposi at Italian Wikisource
Translation	The Betrothed at Wikisource

The Betrothed (Italian: I promessi sposi Italian: [i proˈmessi ˈspɔːzi]) is an Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni, first published in 1827, in three volumes, and significantly revised and rewritten until the definitive version published between 1840 and 1842. It has been called the most famous and widely read novel in the Italian language.^[1]

Set in the Duchy of Milan in 1628, during the years of Spanish rule, the novel is also noted for its extraordinary description of the plague that struck Milan around 1630.

The novel deals with a variety of themes, for example: the illusory nature of political power and the inherent injustice of any legal system; the range of character among the Christian clergy from the cowardice of the parish priest Don Abbondio to the heroic sanctity of others (the friar Padre Cristoforo, the cardinal Federico Borromeo); and the unwavering strength of love (the relationship between Renzo and Lucia, and their struggle to finally meet again and be married). The novel is renowned for offering keen insights into the meanderings of the human mind.