Alessandro Manzoni 
The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) 

Considered one of the most important novels ever written in the Italian language, ’The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi)’ is Alessandro Manzoni’s 1827 historical novel, which details the terribly oppressive rule of the Spanish over Italy in the early 1600s. At the center of the novel is the story of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, whose marriage is forbidden by the local baron. Set against all odds Renzo and Lucia’s love must struggle against the ravages of war, famine, and the plague. Manzoni’s ’The Betrothed’ is an epic, historical Italian masterpiece.