The BetrothedThe Betrothed
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1620s Lombardy, young lovers Renzo and Lucia are kept from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who wants Lucia for himself. Forced to flee and cruelly separated, they face plague, famine and prison on their way back to each other.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a vigorous story of enduring love, power and faith.
You'll love it if you liked
The Count of Monte Cristo
Les Misérables
War and PeaceGood to know
It's a classic, set during the Spanish occupation.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
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Quick answers
Is The Betrothed worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,661 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Betrothed about?
In 1620s Lombardy, young lovers Renzo and Lucia are kept from marrying by the petty tyrant Don Rodrigo, who wants Lucia for himself. Forced to flee and cruelly separated, they face plague, famine and prison on their way back to each other.
How long does it take to read The Betrothed?
About 17 hours (696 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Betrothed?
If you liked it, try The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo or War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.