psnchz's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
harpirl's review
4.0
The Betrothed is a good story, and my first exposure to an Italian work of Literature. The novel has a quite a number of interesting, eccentric characters, not all likable per say.
A tale of two lovers whose engagement breaks shortly before they are married due to the local tyrant ( or to put it more accurately, the local thug) threatens the parish priest to marry them. The novel relates all of the long trials and adventures that the two lovers Renzo and Lucia have to go through. Imprisonment, plague, and famine to name a few of the major setbacks.
The novel was written in the early 19th Century, but set in 1620 period in Milan. Not a easy time for the Italians in that period where famine and the plague was the common thing. The author Manzoni does a good job explaining the historical facts of the time.
A tale of two lovers whose engagement breaks shortly before they are married due to the local tyrant ( or to put it more accurately, the local thug) threatens the parish priest to marry them. The novel relates all of the long trials and adventures that the two lovers Renzo and Lucia have to go through. Imprisonment, plague, and famine to name a few of the major setbacks.
The novel was written in the early 19th Century, but set in 1620 period in Milan. Not a easy time for the Italians in that period where famine and the plague was the common thing. The author Manzoni does a good job explaining the historical facts of the time.
rambolola's review against another edition
5.0
Se riuscite ad andare oltre l'odio causato dalla scuola pubblica che ne impone la lettura al liceo, dalle interminabili e oggettivamente inutili descrizioni di soggetti e luoghi, dalla prosa un po' antiquata, vi renderete conto che è uno dei romanzi storici più divertenti e originali su piazza.
jasminl's review
2.0
I ultimately enjoyed most of the book but I must say that this book has not aged very well.
I liked:
-Very elegant language and style that was transmitted even through the translation in my native language.
-The sense of humour and irony of Manzoni
-Descriptions of inner thoughts and feelings of characters.
-The vivid description of the plague and of the life in general during that historical period
-The adventures of Lorenzo and Lucia, of course (which unfortunately take a much smaller part of the book than I expected).
I did not like
-Long descriptions of minor side characters or historical background. They sometimes take huge portions of the book, badly interrupt the main narrative, and therefore felt unnecessary. In fact, I kept skipping these parts.
-All the time and pages invested in the side characters, intrigues and problems created by them were just swept away by the plague because "the God willed it". The main characters did not really have to resolve anything by themselves.
-I do understand that the times were different in the 17th century, but I can't help it: the religiosity of this book felt a bit excessive. Father Cristoforo is a great character though.
I liked:
-Very elegant language and style that was transmitted even through the translation in my native language.
-The sense of humour and irony of Manzoni
-Descriptions of inner thoughts and feelings of characters.
-The vivid description of the plague and of the life in general during that historical period
-The adventures of Lorenzo and Lucia, of course (which unfortunately take a much smaller part of the book than I expected).
I did not like
-Long descriptions of minor side characters or historical background. They sometimes take huge portions of the book, badly interrupt the main narrative, and therefore felt unnecessary. In fact, I kept skipping these parts.
-All the time and pages invested in the side characters, intrigues and problems created by them were just swept away by the plague because "the God willed it". The main characters did not really have to resolve anything by themselves.
-I do understand that the times were different in the 17th century, but I can't help it: the religiosity of this book felt a bit excessive. Father Cristoforo is a great character though.
mikehuffman's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ariargherita's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
dajna's review against another edition
5.0
Ho avuto la fortuna di leggere una versione per ragazzi dei Promessi Sposi molto prima di doverli studiare a scuola (era di mia mamma e, non sapendo nulla di Manzoni, non avevo pregiudizi). Sono poi stata così fortunata da avere la preside del liceo a fare supplenza per un docente di italiano che tardava ad arrivare, e lei era un'appassionata. Quando rileggo l'addio ai monti non posso fare a meno di pensarla.
Detto questo, la storia è più che nota ed io la trovo bella. Il personaggio più seccante è Lucia, troppo santarellina, eppure non riesco a detestarla come mi è capitato con altre creature letterarie. Va letto. E riletto. E riletto. Ogni volta c'è un pensiero, una considerazione, una piccola e nuova sorpresa
Detto questo, la storia è più che nota ed io la trovo bella. Il personaggio più seccante è Lucia, troppo santarellina, eppure non riesco a detestarla come mi è capitato con altre creature letterarie. Va letto. E riletto. E riletto. Ogni volta c'è un pensiero, una considerazione, una piccola e nuova sorpresa
nonlagiuly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0