The Betrothed | Fiction - www.zzdbook.com

The Betrothed

Aug 13, 2025 2:57 PM

Author:Alessandro Manzoni

The Betrothed

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,

Reviews

The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi), Italy's national literary classic, is many fine things. But above all it is a love story

—— Wall Street Journal

Jones has a flair for luminous and accurate prose... A passionate book

—— Guardian

Gem-like, lyrical portrait of a girl growing-up

—— Boyd Tonkin , Independent

Reads like a luminous album of photographs marked by an almost unbearable sadness

—— Weekend Australian

An immensely well crafted novel

—— Sunday Independent

It's like nothing I've ever read...A book of excruciating sobriety and warmth and a magical concreteness of observation...I know of no book which conveys more about that complex fate, being a European at the end of European civilization. I know of few books written in our time but this one which attains the sublime

—— Susan Sontag, Times Literary Supplement

The writing seems long distilled, intensely pre-mediated and yet utterly fresh. It has an unaffected earnestness, a loner's earnestness

—— Karl Miller, Times Literary Supplement

One of the most innovative writers of the late 20th century... It's as if the spirit of ruined Europe were speaking through him

—— Geoff Dyer , Guardian

The writer who above all others transformed the ravaged lands and minds of post-war Europe into a scene of hauntings

—— Independent

A sumptuous, vividly imagined novel of a Boleyn king’s fateful rise to power amid the treacherous glamour of the Tudor court. A fantastic debut!

—— C. W. Gortner, author of , The Queen’s Vow

A fascinating journey into what might have been, this novel of alternate history will keep you turning the pages and leave you hoping for a sequel

—— Kate Emerson, author of , A Royal Inheritance

Fans of both Stephenie Meyer and Philippa Gregory will find much to love in this evocative and well-written debut

—— Francine Mathews, author of , Jack 1939

Immensely addictive and twisty—kudos to Laura Andersen for her crafty plotting and rich characterizations. Deliciously scandalous and seductive, The Boleyn King delivers history and romance with equal passion

—— Becca Fitzpatrick , New York Times bestselling author of Hush, Hush

From the intrigue of the Tudor court to the battlefields of France, you will be entranced by the power, emotion, and sweeping romance of this spellbinding novel. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series!

—— Syrie James, bestselling author of , The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

... a riveting page-turner ... For historical fiction fans and Tudor aficionados, The Boleyn King is a must-read

—— Sherry Jones, author of , Four Sisters, All Queens

Previous Article：Sixty Lights Next Article：Robinson Crusoe

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.