The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi)

Alessandro Manzoni (1785 - 1873)

The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) presents a kaleidoscope of individual stories, which are all tied together by the story of Lucia and Renzo, two young persons of humble origin that are deeply in love with one another. However, despite their great attachment, they are prevented from marrying by the cruel Don Rodrigo, who has himself cast an eye on the beautiful and pious Lucia. Don Rodrigo menaces the priest who was to perform the wedding ceremony, who then refuses to do his duty. Thus threatened and prevented from being married, the couple is separated, and the narration follows each of them on their struggle to unite again.

Set in the years 1628-1630, the main story is accompanied by a rich and most accurate description of the historical background -- the warfaring cities, the plague, and the oppressive Spanish rule over Northern Italy during that time. The narration also includes many smaller subplots which allow the reader glimpses into the lives of the other characters involved.

Alessandro Manzoni is regarded as one of the most important authors of Italian literature, and this particular work is counted to the overall most important literary works of the 19th century.

Genre(s): Action & Adventure Fiction, Romance

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction TriciaG
00:10:33
Play 01 Chapter 1, Part 1 TriciaG
00:23:27
Play 02 Chapter 1, Part 2 TriciaG
00:22:48
Play 03 Chapter 2, Part 1 TriciaG
00:15:40
Play 04 Chapter 2, Part 2 TriciaG
00:16:50
Play 05 Chapter 3, Part 1 TriciaG
00:22:13
Play 06 Chapter 3, Part 2 TriciaG
00:16:26
Play 07 Chapter 4, Part 1 Luigina
00:18:55
Play 08 Chapter 4, Part 2 Luigina
00:19:46
Play 09 Chapter 5, Part 1 Brendan Stallard
00:19:30
Play 10 Chapter 5, Part 2 Brendan Stallard
00:23:29
Play 11 Chapter 6, Part 1 clover
00:15:50
Play 12 Chapter 6, Part 2 SuD
00:16:53
Play 13 Chapter 7, Part 1 Brendan Stallard
00:29:17
Play 14 Chapter 7, Part 2 Peter Turner
00:23:03
Play 15 Chapter 8, Part 1 Peter Turner
00:24:05
Play 16 Chapter 8, Part 2 Brendan Stallard
00:37:25
Play 17 Chapter 9, Part 1 Luigina
00:23:48
Play 18 Chapter 9, Part 2 Luigina
00:28:39
Play 19 Chapter 10, Part 1 Lani Small
00:28:50
Play 20 Chapter 10, Part 2 T.K. Kirven
00:26:10
Play 21 Chapter 11, Part 1 Charles McHugh
00:24:26
Play 22 Chapter 11, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:27:28
Play 23 Chapter 12, Part 1 Brendan Stallard
00:23:03
Play 24 Chapter 12, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:18:52
Play 25 Chapter 13, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:23:57
Play 26 Chapter 13, Part 2 Lani Small
00:18:45
Play 27 Chapter 14, Part 1 Lani Small
00:21:45
Play 28 Chapter 14, Part 2 Lani Small
00:18:17
Play 29 Chapter 15, Part 1 Lani Small
00:18:52
Play 30 Chapter 15, Part 2 Lani Small
00:21:01
Play 31 Chapter 16, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:23:06
Play 32 Chapter 16, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:20:09
Play 33 Chapter 17, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:23:11
Play 34 Chapter 17, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:23:12
Play 35 Chapter 18, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:25:06
Play 36 Chapter 18, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:18:12
Play 37 Chapter 19, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:24:11
Play 38 Chapter 19, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:18:26
Play 39 Chapter 20, Part 1 Alan Mapstone
00:20:12
Play 40 Chapter 20, Part 2 Alan Mapstone
00:16:29
Play 41 Chapter 21, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:22:23
Play 42 Chapter 21, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:21:39
Play 43 Chapter 22, Part 1 Martin Geeson
00:19:56
Play 44 Chapter 22, Part 2 Martin Geeson
00:22:23
Play 45 Chapter 23, Part 1 Brendan Stallard
00:32:44
Play 46 Chapter 23, Part 2 Brendan Stallard
00:24:15
Play 47 Chapter 24, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:26:12
Play 48 Chapter 24, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:22:40
Play 49 Chapter 24, Part 3 Jules Hawryluk
00:25:55
Play 50 Chapter 25, Part 1 Jeanie
00:14:24
Play 51 Chapter 25, Part 2 Jeanie
00:22:12
Play 52 Chapter 26, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:21:00
Play 53 Chapter 26, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:23:47
Play 54 Chapter 27, Part 1 Alan Mapstone
00:22:33
Play 55 Chapter 27, Part 2 Alan Mapstone
00:23:09
Play 56 Chapter 28, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:32:03
Play 57 Chapter 28, Part 2 Jules Hawryluk
00:32:22
Play 58 Chapter 29, Part 1 Jules Hawryluk
00:21:22
Play 59 Chapter 29, Part 2 Lani Small
00:17:15
Play 60 Chapter 30, Part 1 Michele Eaton
00:13:58
Play 61 Chapter 30, Part 2 Michele Eaton
00:14:39
Play 62 Chapter 31, Part 1 Alan Mapstone
00:23:42
Play 63 Chapter 31, Part 2 Alan Mapstone
00:26:13
Play 64 Chapter 32, Part 1 Lani Small
00:24:40
Play 65 Chapter 32, Part 2 Lani Small
00:20:34
Play 66 Chapter 33, Part 1 Lani Small
00:25:08
Play 67 Chapter 33, Part 2 Sandra Estenson
00:30:47
Play 68 Chapter 34, Part 1 Sandra Estenson
00:35:28
Play 69 Chapter 34, Part 2 Lani Small
00:26:49
Play 70 Chapter 35, Part 1 Lani Small
00:16:49
Play 71 Chapter 35, Part 2 Lani Small
00:17:50
Play 72 Chapter 36, Part 1 Lani Small
00:28:25
Play 73 Chapter 36, Part 2 Lani Small
00:20:56
Play 74 Chapter 37, Part 1 TriciaG
00:20:25
Play 75 Chapter 37, Part 2 TriciaG
00:16:42
Play 76 Chapter 38, Part 1 TriciaG
00:21:02
Play 77 Chapter 38, Part 2 TriciaG
00:26:14