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A review by tomleetang
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
3.0
A leisurely paced piece of historical fiction with a clear central narrative that makes enjoyable little segues into portraits of the people of the time, from cardinals to 'bravi' (mercenary brigands). And what a wonderfully comedic creation is the cowardly, dithering priest Don Abbondio!
Some of the social diatribes reminded me of Tolstoy - the parts of Tolstoy I like the least, when he goes off on a lecture about societal ills that isn't really woven into the narrative. The Betrothed does have some interesting things to say, though, about the effect of the Thirty Years War on northern Italy, particular the civil mismanagement and corruption that led to starvation, poverty and abuse, and the ensuing horrors of the plague that arrived like the wrath of God to cleanse the land.
Some of the social diatribes reminded me of Tolstoy - the parts of Tolstoy I like the least, when he goes off on a lecture about societal ills that isn't really woven into the narrative. The Betrothed does have some interesting things to say, though, about the effect of the Thirty Years War on northern Italy, particular the civil mismanagement and corruption that led to starvation, poverty and abuse, and the ensuing horrors of the plague that arrived like the wrath of God to cleanse the land.