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The Betrothed

Alessandro Manzoni

Start date: April 1, 2022

Finish date: June 30, 2022

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What Members Thought

Jun 13, 2022 Chrissie rated it liked it

Shelves: hf, classics, swedish-narration, adventure, religion, italy, medical, legimus, long, 2022-read

I listened to this translated into Swedish. I figured, why not? No matter what I choose, I must use a translation. English or Swedish, what’s the difference?! I was pleased with the Swedish text. Written in the 1800s, the style of the novel is somewhat dated, but it is not at all hard to follow. When reading a translation, we are in the hands of the translator. Nowhere could I find who the translator was! This is a Daisy audiobook. They are made for those of us having lousy vision. I hope I’m gi I listened to this translated into Swedish. I figured, why not? No matter what I choose, I must use a translation. English or Swedish, what’s the difference?! I was pleased with the Swedish text. Written in the 1800s, the style of the novel is somewhat dated, but it is not at all hard to follow. When reading a translation, we are in the hands of the translator. Nowhere could I find who the translator was! This is a Daisy audiobook. They are made for those of us having lousy vision. I hope I’m giving you enough information so you can find it. The narrator is Britta Nilzén. The words are distinctly spoken and clear. Swedish narrators do tend to speak more slowly than either American or English narrators. I like this. She varies her tone to fit the person speaking. Men, women, factual information and notes are each intoned in an appropriate voice. The narration I have given four stars.

Stumbling blocks are put in the path of a couple that wants to get married. Will they get married or not?

I’ve had a hard time choosing between three or four stars. I’ve settled on three because at the book’s end the author kind of preaches to us, guides us, lectures us, telling us how we should and should not behave. He goes a step too far, turning the message conveyed into almost a sermon.

I am not religious, and clearly the author is. His religious beliefs are NOT what gave me trouble. It was instead the lecturing tone that bothered me. In fact, the religious message can for the most part be seen as simply good, moral behavior, common sense and a belief in the value of kindness, guiding principles that I totally agree with.

This is historical fiction. You learn about Italian history—primarily Lombardy, where the story is set, in the years 1628-1630. Lombardy was then under Spanish rule. The lack of bread, the famine that ensued and the subsequent plague that came to ravage Milan are vividly depicted. Time and time again, the failure of the laws and legal system to ensure justice is focused upon.

The author does an excellent job of both setting out the historical facts and then making them meaningful to his readers. He does this by revealing the dire consequences of historical events in the characters’ lives. LOTS happens, and I found I became attached to the characters. To tell you the truth, this surprised me, but I cannot deny what I felt for them. It surprised me because their lives were so completely different from my own. It surprised me that I could relate to them as much as I did. Alessandro Manzoni achieves this through his writing. That the novel is in Italy considered a great classic does not surprise me.

The author uses contrasts effectively. First, we learn about the famine and the plague through hard facts. Books that had been written are referred to. Then we see how these events play out in characters’ lives. And then, the author moves us from the pestilence and the dying out to the countryside. The beauty of nature hits us like a knock on the head. The contrast makes you more conscious of both the horrible and the good. The contrast enhances our perception and sensitivity.

There are lines of wisdom inserted among the episodes of action. There are statements referring to how people behave. For example, weak individuals hold themselves upright by grasping on to another, one who is stronger.

The author/translator expresses him/herself well. In the example just mentioned, human behavior is compared to one plant clinging to another for support. It’s a good metaphor. At points the author interrupts the storytelling and talks directly to the reader. It’s used effectively as a means by which readers are moved between fact and fiction.

I like learning Italian history. I like that there is a focus upon figuring out what is important in life. I like that the characters are confused and struggle to know what is the right thing to do. It is at the end, when answers are proclaimed, that the book goes wrong for me. ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Jun 30, 2011 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction-19th-century, italian-literature, e-books, mtbr-challenge-2013, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, gutenberg, read-2013, librivox

Quotations:

Before concluding a marriage, we are required to search closely that there be no obstacles.

Those who injure others are guilty, not only of the evils they commit, but also of the effects produced by these evils on the characters of the injured persons.

"Surely, there's justice in the world." So true is it that, under the influence of great misfortune, men no longer know what they say.

Free download available at Project Gutenberg.

Thanks to Karen for having recommended this book. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review