The Betrothed by Manzoni: Italy's Most Loved Novel - A Summary for Beginners

0:00 Today I will tell you about a literary work which is very popular in Italy but less so abroad. I will explain the gist of the book, the themes, and why you should consider reading it. The Betrothed (“I promessi sposi” is an Italian novel by Alessandro Manzoni, released in different versions between 1827 and 1842. It is one of the most widely read works in the Italian language. To learn more about Italian and Sicilian literature, consider subscribing(!) ;-) Italy is gripped by Spanish rule in 1628, whereas Venice is an independent republic

0:52 Renzo and Lucia, live near Lecco, on Lake Como in northern Italy. They have plans to marry. The local priest, don Abbondio, is intimidated by two (thugs) the night before the marriage ceremony, as he walks home. They warn him the local baron (Don Rodrigo) has ordered the wedding must not happen. Renzo arrives to be wed and is stunned to learn that the marriage has been postponed, don Abbondio made up an excuse. Eventually, a furious Renzo learns that Don Rodrigo is also a keen admirer of Lucia (the bride to

1:39 be.) Lucia's mother, Agnese, suggests Renzo talks to the lawyer, "Dr. Azzeccagarbugli" in Lecco, Dr. Azzeccagarbugli explains threats to procure or prevent marriages are against the law, but learning of the involvement of Don Rodrigo, he sends Renzo away. Lucia seeks assistance from Friar Christopher, from the monastery of Pescarenico. Friar Cristoforo immediately confronts Don Rodrigo at his mansion, finding him dining with his cousin Count Attilio, the mayor and Dr. Azzeccagarbugli.

2:30 Don Rodrigo is enraged by the friars intervention and sends him away, but , of course, offering to assist Cristoforo at some point, to gain his loyalty. As Friar Cristoforo returns with the bad news, Agnese decided to take matters into her own hands. Two people could declare themselves married before a priest and two witnesses. Renzo offered his friend Tonio 25 lire if he could help. Lucia and Agnese are visited by beggars, who are actually Don Rodrigo's men in disguise.

3:16 They plan to case the house with a plan to return later. That night, Agnese, Tonio and his brother Gervaso distract Don Abbondio's servant Perpetua allowing Lucia and Renzo to sneak in. Realising the plan, the priest drops the lamp and they struggle in the dark. Don Rodrigo's men returned to find Lucia’s house empty. A boy called Menico, sent by Fra Cristoforo arrives and is initially seized. Fearing their plans have been betrayed, Don Rodrigo’s men flee quickly in confusion.

4:01 Menico warns Agnese, Lucia and Renzo not to return home, and instead they head to the monastery. Friar Cristoforo hands Renzo two letters, one a letter of introduction to a friar at Milan, and another letter to arrange accomodation in Monza. Lucia is entrusted to the nun Gertrude, whose behaviour is unusual Gertude was from an important local family, who was sent to the convent by her father Gertrude would learn life as a nun did not suit her. Pressurised by her father and fearing scandal, Gertrude reluctantly entered the

4:48 convent of Monza, nicknamed la Signora ("the lady"). She soon fell for , Egidio, an unscrupulous associate of the notorious local baron, called Innominato (the "Unnamed"). Egidio and Gertrude soon became lovers and when another nun realised, they killed the hapless witness. Unable to find the friar at the monastery in Milan , Renzo wanders the city which is suffering famine. A bakery is attacked by a mob, who then proceed to lynch a local governor in charge of supplies. The local governor is saved by Ferrer, the Grand Chancellor,

5:37 who announces he is taking the local governor to prison. Renzo helps Ferrer as he passes through the crowd. Renzo joins in an animated discussion which attract the attention of a police agent, looking for perpetrators. The agent tries to lead Renzo directly to the “best inn”, what will actually prove to be prison. Renzo is tired and instead stops at a local inn where, after a few drinks , he blurts out his real name and address. In the morning, Renzo is handcuffed by notary and bailiffs, who lead him away. Renzo shouts he is being punished for his earlier heroism

6:22 and with the help of a sympathetic crowd, he escapes Milan. He heads for Bergamo, part of the Most Serene Republic of Venice and his cousin Bortolo, safe from the reach of the Spanish authorities in Milan. At an inn in Gorgonzola, Renzo realises how much trouble he is in. He now walks at night to avoid attention, crossing the River Adda. Reaching his cousin's house, he is met by Antonio Rivolta. Orders for Renzo's arrest arrive in his home village of Lecco. News of Renzo’s situation reaches the convent, Lucia is relieved to learn that Renzo is safe with his cousin. Hearing no news from Fra

7:15 Cristoforo, Agnese travels to Pescarenico, where she learns the friar had been summoned to Rimini. Don Rodrigo and Count Attilio had actually hatched a plot, using their various influences. Don Rodrigo was now free to kidnap Lucia from the convent, aided by l'Innominato, the Unnamed. Gertrude, now blackmailed by Egidio, her lover, sends Lucia on an errand outside the convent, where she is promptly abducted. Lucia is improsoned at the castle of the Unnamed The Unnamed is troubled by the sight of Lucia,

8:00 she triggers painful memories of his past and he agonises all night about his predicament. Lucia accepting her situation, decides to renounce Renzo if she is saved from her predicament. Throngs of people walking past the Unnamed’s house to listen to the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Federigo Borromeo. The Unnamed decides to go meet Cardinal Federigo Borromeo after which he is dramatically changes in his views. The Unnamed announces his reign of terror is over and returns Lucia home under his own protection

8:47 Don Rodrigo is stunned by this act of defiance, his position is immediately weakened. Don Abbondio is chastised by the archbishop. A desparate Lucia, still worries for Renzo, who is now a topic of diplomatic conflict between Milan (the Spanish) and Bergamo (the Venetian Republic.) An interfering wealthy local woman, Donna Prassede, presses Lucia into her household and declares Renzo a good-for-nothing lowlife. The Thirty Years' War (between Habsburgs in Austria, Spain, and the French House of Bourbon ) only piles on the misery for the population. War rages across northern Italy, between France and

9:38 the Holy Roman Empire. Milan is swamped by beggars, and the sick as the price of bread soars. German armies led by Count Rambaldo di Collalto attack Italy, causing untold looting and destruction. Agnese, Don Abbondio and Perpetua flee to the sanctuary of the Unnamed’s territory. Their home village off Lecco is sacked and pillaged by mercenaries. The plague of 1630, is devastating for Milan. Renzo, recovering from plague, returns to Lecco to find only death and destruction.

10:25 The warrant, and Don Rodrigo, are forgotten. He learns Lucia is now in Milan. Renzo is stunned to see the terrible state of Milan. His clothes (typical of another region) create suspicion that he is a foreign agent, maybe spreading plague. He now learns that Lucia is at the Lazzaretto of Milan, with a number of other victims of the plague. Lucia is also recovering from the plague. Friar Cristoforo reunites Renzo and Lucia, but only after Renzo visits and forgives the ailing Don Rodrigo. In return, the friar absolves Lucia of her earlier vow of celibacy. Agnese, Lucia and Renzo return to Lecco where

11:20 the pair are eventually married by Don Abbondio. The couple set off for a fresh start in Bergamo. This is one of the most widely read Italian novels, second only to Dante’s Divine Comedy It is is considered a masterpiece of Italian literature. Many of the expressions, and quotes are commonly used in Italian The book is about love, power, evil, injustice for the poor, hypocrisy, heroism and fatalism. The poor have to endure adversity in the hope of divine justice, only in the afterlife The novel interestingly focuses on the inner musings of the characters, their own perspectives.

12:07 Manzoni leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions. The Betrothed has some similarities with Walter Scott's historic novel Ivanhoe During the early 19th century, what would later become Standard Italian was still evolving. Manzoni initially wrote in Florentine dialect (much like the modern Camilleri Montalbano books include Sicilian dialect) but he later removed these regional variations. I Promessi Sposi was made into an opera by Amilcare Ponchielli and Errico Petrella Numerous film versions of I Promessi Sposi

12:54 exist. A "modern opera“, The Betrothed Lovers, was performed in 2010. Even, Pope Francis suggested this was useful reading for couples hoping to marry.