I Promessi Sposi (English The Betrothed) is an Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni. It is the most famous and widely read novel of the Italian language. Based in northern Italy in the early 17th century, during the terrible, oppressive years under Spanish rule, it is really a veiled attack on Austria, who controlled the region at the time of writing (the definitive version was published in 1842). It is also noted for the extraordinary description of the plague that struck Milan in 1630. Far from being merely a political or historical work, however, the novel deals with a variety of themes, from the cowardly, hypocritical nature of the Catholic Church to the unwavering strength of love, and offers some keen insights into the meanderings of the human mind. Widely underappreciated outside of Italy, it is one of the great European novels of the 19th century. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... Alessandro Manzoni Alessandro Francesco Tommaso Manzoni (March 7, 1785–May 22, 1873) was an Italian poet and novelist. ... See also: 1841 in literature, other events of 1842, 1843 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Plague redirects here. ... Location within Italy Piazza della Scala Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed of Italian regions. ... Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ... Love has many meanings in English. ...