Audiobooks by Alessandro Manzoni

Classic Love Stories: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 12 Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey through the greatest tales of romance ever told. These unmissable, dramatised novels feature stellar performances from fantastic casts including Vanessa Kirby, Hiftu Quasem, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, John Hurt and David Tennant. Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy's powerful drama of desire, transgression and heartache. Starring Kate Philips (Wolf Hall), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter) and Rory Kinnear (James Bond films). Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a fantastic mix of injustice, romance, passion and danger wrapped up in a glorious love story. Starring Amanda Hale (Catastrophe) and Tom Burke (Strike). Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is a masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness - the first great novel of adultery. Starring Sarah Smart (Wallander), Jude Akuwudike (Gangs of London) and James D’Arcy (Broadchurch) with John Hurt (Harry Potter) as the Narrator. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other, fall in love, and never let go. Starring Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Vanessa Kirby (Mission Impossible), David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Paul Ready (Motherland). Chéri by Colette is the story of a love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age, set in Paris before the First World War. Starring Frances Barber (Silk) and Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) with Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) as the Narrator. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the world’s favourite novels, dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class and money with a witty, clever - though flawed - heroine at its heart. Starring Pippa Nixon (Unforgotten), Jamie Parker (The Crown) and Toby Jones (The Detectorists). The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni is an icon of Italian literature: the story of two lovers who want nothing more than to marry but are beset by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. Starring Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) and Ian Dunnett Jnr (Masters of the Air). The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, written in 1928, is a pioneering novel about love and attraction between women. Starring Valerie Edmond as the enigmatic Stephen. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's iconic love story. Heathcliff and Cathy's love is the beating heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the bleak Yorkshire moors. Starring Chloe Pirrie (Temple) and Ben Batt (Shameless). North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell explores social conscience, ideological difference and love in a mill town in the 1800s. Starring Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) and David Threlfall (Shameless). The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a passionate life-long love affair which breaks all the rules of the restrictive high society of 1870's New York. Starring Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) and Kellie Bright (Eastenders). Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy is a story of the belief in true romance and the power of money and love. Starring Alex Tregear (Silk: The Clerk’s Room), Toby Jones (The Detectorists) and Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire). This stunning collection is packed with the best romance stories written in the last 500 years – a fully dramatised, unmissable listen featuring some of the biggest names of stage and screen. ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni, Charlotte Brönte, Colette Avital, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Emily Brönte, Gustave Flaubert, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Radclyffe Hall, Thomas Hardy, William Shakespeare (Author), David Tennant, Full Cast, John Hurt, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, Tom Burke, Vanessa Kirby (Narrator)

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The Betrothed: A Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisation

"A full-cast dramatisation of Italy’s iconic novel The Betrothed is a sweeping epic, packed with the passion of Les Misérables, the power of War and Peace and the action of Ivanhoe. Set in 17th century Italy, this is the ultimate story of love, faith, justice and power. Engaged couple, Renzo and Lucia must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to be together. Lombardy, their region of northern Italy, is under Spanish occupation, and when the Spaniard Don Rodrigo blocks their union, in an attempt to have Lucia for himself, the couple are forced to resist his plots. Their love is thwarted at every turn by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. This gripping listen chronicles their unforgettable romance through tyranny, war, famine and plague. Renzo and Lucia are tested again and again, but can their union endure? Performed by a full cast, this stunning saga is masterfully brought to life and available to download for the first time as a complete listen. First published in 1827 as I Promessi Sposi, this icon of Italian literature as well as the country’s most popular novel, has never been out of print. Groundbreaking in its day, and hugely influential to succeeding generations, Alessandro Manzoni’s masterpiece has long been considered one of Italy’s national treasures. It is so integral to contemporary Italian culture every schoolchild reads it to this day. If you liked Les Misérables, War and Peace or Ivanhoe, then you will love The Betrothed. This is a must listen for any fan of classical literature. The Betrothed is a story that has, thought the centuries, been celebrated by writers, artists and composers such as Verdi, Primo Levi, Natalia Ginzburg, Umberto Eco and Pope Francis. A bona fide canonical classic hiding in plain sight - The Wall Street Journal Cast and credits Written by Alessandro Manzoni Adapted by Eileen Horne Directed by Gaynor Macfarlane Lucia - Hiftu Quasem Renzo - Ian Dunnett Jnr Father Abbondio - Paul Higgins Gabriel/Servant Boy - Joel Maccormack Griso/Officer - Owen Whitelaw Nibbio/Ambrogio - Tunji Kasim Agnese - Maureen Beattie Brother Cristoforo - Ewan Bailey Nameless /Old Friar - Jonathan Forbes Rodrigo/Boss/Boatman/Traveller - Sandy Grierson Gertrude/Gilda - Chloe Pirrie First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5th - 12th November 2023 ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Chloe Pirrie, Ewan Bailey, Full Cast, Hiftu Quasem, Ian Dunnett Jnr, Joel MacCormack, Jonathan Forbes, Maureen Beattie, Owen Whitelaw, Paul Higgins, Sandy Grierson, Tunji Kasim (Narrator)

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[Italian] - I Promessi Sposi - Riassunto narrato in 90 minuti: Sintesi moderna con voce digitale, id

"Questo audiolibro è narrato da una voce digitale. “I Promessi Sposi – Riassunto narrato in 90 minuti” è una sintesi moderna e fedele del celebre romanzo di Alessandro Manzoni, pensata per lo studio, il ripasso o la riscoperta rapida del grande classico. Questo audiolibro è stato adattato e strutturato per offrire un’esperienza chiara, fluida e completa in meno di due ore, mantenendo tutti i passaggi fondamentali della trama. La narrazione è realizzata con voce digitale professionale, ideale per studenti, appassionati di letteratura o chi cerca un riassunto accurato da ascoltare ovunque. Adattamento a cura di Riccardo Gabossi. Basato su opera in pubblico dominio."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Voce digitale Peter Owen E (Narrator)

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[Italian] - I promessi sposi - Audiolibro

"Nella Lombardia del Seicento, oppressa dalla dominazione spagnola, il giovane filatore Renzo Tramaglino e la sua promessa sposa Lucia Mondella sognano una vita insieme. Ma il loro amore è minacciato dall'arroganza di Don Rodrigo, un signorotto senza scrupoli che, per un capriccio, impedisce le nozze. Costretti alla fuga, i due innamorati affrontano ingiustizie, pericoli e la devastazione della peste, trovando rifugio tra personaggi indimenticabili: il coraggioso fra Cristoforo, la tormentata Monaca di Monza e il misterioso Innominato. Con 'I Promessi Sposi', Alessandro Manzoni firma uno dei più grandi capolavori della letteratura italiana, un romanzo storico avvincente che intreccia amore, fede e riscatto sociale, restituendo un affresco vivido di un'epoca segnata da oppressione e speranza."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Diego Fontana (Narrator)

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The Betrothed (Unabridged)

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. The Betrothed is a sweeping historical novel set against the backdrop of 17th century Italy. Follow the tumultuous journey of Renzo and Lucia, two young lovers torn apart by war, plague, and societal pressures. Immerse yourself in a world of intricate plots, religious fervor, and the resilience of the human spirit. Manzoni's masterpiece weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and redemption, offering a poignant reflection on faith, morality, and the complexities of human nature. Prepare to be captivated by this epic tale of enduring love and historical drama."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Digital Voice Mike G (Narrator)

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The Betrothed: A Novel

""The first English translation in more than fifty years of Alessandro Manzoni's masterpiece, a work of foundational Italian literature on par with the Divine Comedy and the Decameron."-The Wall Street Journal "An exemplary historical novel" (The New Yorker) from the father of modern Italian literature, The Betrothed receives its first new English-language translation in fifty years, hailed as "a landmark literary occasion" by Jhumpa Lahiri. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker The Betrothed is a cornerstone of Italian culture, language, and literature. Published in its final form in 1842, The Betrothed has inspired generations of Italian readers and writers. Giuseppe Verdi composed his majestic Requiem Mass in honor of Manzoni. Italo Calvino called the novel "a classic that has never ceased shaping reality in Italy" while Umberto Eco praised its author as a "most subtle critic and analyst of languages." The Betrothed has been celebrated by Primo Levi and Natalia Ginzburg, and is one of Pope Francis's favorite books. But, until now, it has remained relatively unknown to English readers. In the fall of 1628, two young lovers are forced to flee their village on the shores of Lake Como after a powerful lord prevents their marriage, plunging them into the maelstrom of history. Manzoni draws on actual people and events to create an unforgettable fresco of Italian life and society. In this greatest of historical novels, he takes the reader on a journey through the Spanish occupation of Milan, the ravages of war, class tensions, social injustice, religious faith, and a plague that devastates northern Italy. But within Manzoni's epic tale, readers will also hear powerful echoes of our own day. Michael F. Moore's dynamic new translation of The Betrothed brings to life Manzoni's timeless literary masterpiece."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Ari Fliakos, Susan Vinciotti Bonito (Narrator)

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The Betrothed

"After the jealous tyrant Don Rodrigo foils their wedding, young Lombardian peasants Lucia and Lorenzo must separate and flee for their safety. Their difficult path to matrimony takes place against the turbulent backdrop of the Thirty Years War, where lawlessness and exploitation are at their height. Lucia takes refuge in a convent, where she is later abducted and taken on a nightmarish journey to a sinister castle, while Lorenzo goes to Milan, where he witnesses famine, riots and plague - all evoked through meticulous description and with stunning immediacy. The Betrothed is a masterful example of historical fiction and remains one of the most famous novels in Italian literature. **Contact Customer Service for Additional Content**"

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Nicholas Boulton (Narrator)

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The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi)

"The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi) presents a kaleidoscope of individual stories, which are all tied together by the story of Lucia and Renzo, two young persons of humble origin that are deeply in love with one another. However, despite their great attachment, they are prevented from marrying by the cruel Don Rodrigo, who has himself cast an eye on the beautiful and pious Lucia. Don Rodrigo menaces the priest who was to perform the wedding ceremony, who then refuses to do his duty. Thus threatened and prevented from being married, the couple is separated, and the narration follows each of them on their struggle to unite again. Set in the years 1628-1630, the main story is accompanied by a rich and most accurate description of the historical background -- the warfaring cities, the plague, and the oppressive Spanish rule over Northern Italy during that time. The narration also includes many smaller subplots which allow the reader glimpses into the lives of the other characters involved. Alessandro Manzoni is regarded as one of the most important authors of Italian literature, and this particular work is counted to the overall most important literary works of the 19th century."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), LibriVox Volunteers (Narrator)

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[Italian] - Promessi Sposi, I

"Il capolavoro della letteratura italiana e la base dell' italiano corretto. L’ascolto ribalterà le cattive impressioni dovute al forzato apprendimento scolastico. Si apprezzerà un romanzo fresco, ironico, di grande spessore spirituale. Di grande attualità; una storia d’amoreAdatto a: tutti, iIn particolare a chi a scuola l’ha detestato e si è sempre chiesto se era un capolavoro oppure no; ai cultori del romanzo storico; a chi ha fede e a chi non ne ha, per un confronto con un’opera dalle infinite sfaccettature."

Alessandro Manzoni (Author), Silvia Cecchini (Narrator)

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