Voted the best novel of the 19th century by a European literary congress, Alessandro Manzoni’s finely crafted masterpiece is widely known and dearly loved in his native Italy where it has been adapted not only for stage, opera, ballet, and the modern screen, but is also frequently depicted in art and is even mentioned in tourist guide books!

Set in the picturesque Italian lake district in 17th-century Italy, The Betrothed is the engrossing tale of two good young peasants, Renzo and Lucia, who are promised to each other but whose marriage is prevented by a local nobleman, Don Rodrigo, who has taken a fancy to Lucia and threatens the village priest about to marry them.

Fleeing Don Rodrigo’s henchmen, the unfortunate pair are separated, and each is forced to undergo various trials and difficulties, including a foreign invasion, a famine, and a plague, before they can be reunited with the provident and often unexpected aid of others.

Swept into a turbulent, bustling landscape, the reader will be swiftly engaged by the dramatic depiction of the weak and the powerful in Spanish-occupied Lombardy and will be fascinated by the novel’s cast of richly drawn characters.

Almost Shakespearean in presentation, Manzoni’s characters are too good to miss. The reader will not soon forget the timid Don Abbondio and his chatty housekeeper, Perpetua, or the noble, selfless Fra Christoforo. The tragic Nun of Monza and the menacing figure of the Unnamed add considerable tension to the tale, while the uncertain fate of the angelic Lucia keeps the reader captivated as Renzo heroically struggles to find her amidst the chaos and upheaval surrounding them all.

Famous for its indictment of the rich and powerful for the suffering of the poor and defenseless, the novel just as thoroughly examines each victim’s response to injustice and affliction: is violent resistance, which Renzo is tempted to use, or the fearful capitulation of Don Abbondio the answer? Or could the hopeful, prayerful resignation of Lucia be the model Manzoni is presenting?

Discover the answer for yourself as you explore the vivid, living tapestry Manzoni has so artfully created, and you will be enchanted and entertained, but also challenged and inspired by the majestic vistas of The Betrothed and its beautiful, serene, and commanding moral message.

Generously illustrated and annotated, this self-directing study guide is ideal for use by high-school students and can be easily adapted for use by study groups or in classrooms. The study guide includes the following features:

• an account of the author’s life with a discussion of the Italian Risorgimento and its defining
  influence on Manzoni’s religious/philosophical viewpoint
• a presentation on the historical novel, Manzoni’s many shades of irony, his masterful creation of characters, and his unique use of imagery throughout the novel
• reproductions of the original woodcut illustrations from the 1911 edition of The Betrothed
  
• introductory notes and discussion questions/activities for each chapter
• comprehensive answer key and daily lesson plan schedule for ease of use