Giuseppe Verdi composed his majestic Requiem Mass in honor of Manzoni. Published in its final form in 1842, The Betrothed has inspired generations of Italian readers and writers. The Betrothed is a cornerstone of Italian culture, language, and literature. The timeless masterpiece from Alessandro Manzoni, 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. Moore's vigorous and companionable translation, the book is now here for everyone to see.'- The Wall Street Journal 'An important new translation of] a bona fide canonical classic hiding in plain sight. Moore's dynamic new translation brings to life Manzoni's timeless literary masterpiece. But within Manzoni's epic tale, readers will also hear powerful echoes of our own day. 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.

Manzoni draws on actual people and events to create an unforgettable fresco of Italian life and society. 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. But, until now, it has remained relatively unknown to English readers. 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. Published in its final form in 1842, the novel has inspired generations of Italian readers and writers. The timeless masterpiece from Alessandro Manzoni, the father of modern Italian literature, in the first new English-language translation in fifty years, hailed as 'a landmark literary occasion' by Jhumpa Lahiri in her preface to the edition

The betrothed michael f moore