The Alessandro Manzoni Library cover art

The Alessandro Manzoni Library

The Alessandro Manzoni Library

Written by: Alessandro Manzoni
Listen for free

About this listen

 In these pages given to the living voice, the listener may encounter not only stories, but the motions of the human heart: hope in affliction, conscience in trial, and that quiet Providence which often guides men by roads they did not choose. The Alessandro Manzoni Library offers complete readings of works born of history, faith, and compassion, that old truths may once more be heard with patience, gravity, and humble delight.Public domain
Episodes
  • The Betrothed Chapter 2 Part 2

    The Betrothed Chapter 2 Part 2
    May 3 2026
    In which Renzo confronts Don Abbondio with fierce urgency to uncover the mysterious power that forbids his marriage to Lucia, whilst the curate, torn by fear and conscience, reluctantly reveals the name of the imperious intercessor. Meanwhile, amidst anxious whispers and interrupted festivities, Lucia receives Renzo’s grave tidings with sorrowful composure, as the village soon buzzes with the news of the thwarted wedding and the curate’s sudden illness.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • The Betrothed Chapter 2 Part 1

    The Betrothed Chapter 2 Part 1
    Apr 30 2026
    In which Don Abbondio, beset by fear and intimidation, attempts to delay the long-anticipated marriage of Renzo and Lucia by weaving excuses and braving inward torment, while Renzo confronts the puzzling obstruction with youthful impatience and seeks understanding from those around him. The encounter reveals a subtle undercurrent of unseen pressures and whispered threats, setting a sombre tone of uneasy suspense amidst the seemingly simple affairs of love and duty.
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • The Betrothed Chapter 1 Part 2

    The Betrothed Chapter 1 Part 2
    Apr 27 2026
    In which the timid Don Abbondio, confronted by menacing strangers and burdened by the troubling state of society in which justice is often impotent, contemplates the precariousness of his existence and the prudence of quiet submission. Seeking solace and counsel from his faithful housekeeper Perpetua, he reveals his anxieties while wrestling with his conscience and the harsh realities that shape his timid resolve.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
No reviews yet