Alessandro Manzoni Libros

“The great plague novel.” —The New Yorker Set in Lombardy during the Spanish occupation of the late 1620s, The Betrothed tells the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, prevented from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Forced to flee, they are then cruelly separated, and must face many dangers including plague, famine and imprisonment, and confront a variety of strange characters—the mysterious Nun of Monza, the fiery Father Cristoforo and the sinister "Unnamed"—in their struggle to be reunited. 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. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Set in 17th-century Italy, this historical novel explores themes of love, faith, and social justice through the intertwined lives of two lovers, Renzo and Lucia. Their engagement faces numerous obstacles, including societal turmoil and personal betrayal. As they navigate the challenges posed by powerful figures and a tumultuous backdrop, the story delves into the complexities of human relationships and the struggle for moral integrity. Manzoni's rich narrative provides a vivid portrayal of Italian life and the impact of fate on individual choices.

I Promessi Sposi Jetzt zum ersten Mal im Taschenbuch: Der berühmteste Roman Italiens in der hochgelobten Neuübersetzung von Burkhart Kroeber unter dem orignalgetreuen Titel ›Die Brautleute‹. Mit der Fiktion einer wiederentdeckten Chronik spielt der große italienische Romancier Allessandro Manzoni in seinem berühmten Werk ›I promessi sposi‹ von 1827, das in dieser Neuübersetzung nicht mehr unter dem vertrauten Titel ›Die Verlobten‹, sondern unter dem orginalgetreuen ›Die Brautleute‹ vorgelegt wird. Es geht um die Geschichte des jungen Brautpaars Renzo und Lucia, deren Hochzeit sich durch Intrigen, Gewalt und Schicksalsschläge schier unüberwindliche Hindernisse in den Weg stellen. Doch diese Liebesgeschichte ist eingebettet in ein großartiges Tableau: Unter Berufung auf historische Quellen aus dem 17. Jahrhundert läßt Manzoni, dieser unbestechliche Beobachter und glänzende Stilist, ein ganzes Zeitalter, seine Gesellschaft und seine politischen Ereignisse lebendig werden. Manzonis Mailänder Geschichte zählt zu den wichtigsten Romanen der Weltliteratur, seine Bewunderer reichen von Goethe bis Umberto Eco und diese Neuübersetzung wurde mit Kritikerlob geradezu überhäuft.

I bravi e Don Abbondio, l’Innominato e Don Rodrigo, Fra’ Cristoforo e il cardinale Borromeo, suor Gertrude, Renzo e Lucia. Sopra a tutti, la Provvidenza. Il romanzo italiano prende il via da qui, dai Promessi sposi e dai suoi personaggi, figure tratteggiate come in un grande affresco, ognuna con le proprie peculiarità, così da avere conquistato nell’immaginario collettivo, attraverso i secoli, simpatie e antipatie tutte umane. Ed è nell’umanità dei personaggi, nella pacatezza dei colori, nell’ironia e nelle lacrime che si estrinseca il fascino del “romanzo” per eccellenza, alla cui stesura, attraverso diverse edizioni, Alessandro Manzoni dedicò vent’anni della sua luminosa carriera letteraria. Introduzione di S. Silvano Nigro.