Alessandro Manzoni, ilazed, italian, italian writers, italian culture

Translated by Alanna Quintyne

In today’s article called Alessandro Manzoni, I shortly talk about this Italian writer, pointing out how he influenced the Italian language through his masterpiece: I Promessi Sposi.

Alessandro Manzoni is considered one of the greatest Italian writers, and of course, since my blog is about Italian language and culture, I couldn’t help but write an article about him.

But why did I decide to talk about this writer right now?

Well, if you have been following me for a while already, you know that I draw inspiration from the questions my students ask me and from the events that take place during the year. So, this time again, I was inspired by a rather important anniversary: the anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death, which took place on May 22, 1873.

The thoughts of Alessandro Manzoni

Alessandro Manzoni is one of the most important and appreciated writers in Italian literature.

Although his grandfather was the celebrated Cesare Beccaria, an exponent of the Italian Enlightenment, his poetics did not focus on the typical cornerstones of this current, among which stands out the concept of a “natural light” capable of knowing, reasoning and guiding man in his actions.

Instead, in his way of thinking, and consequently in his works, the ideals of equality and freedom, the reality of his time, and the dominant passions and ideologies of the time are mixed with deep faith in God, who guides men to lead them to salvation.

The problem of the Italian language

Alessandro Manzoni lived in the period of the unification of Italy, savoring its turmoil, struggles, dreams, and why not, even its problems.

Although in 1861 the unity of the Italian nation was already a reality, the differences among Italians were abysmal, and it is precisely in connection with this that Massimo D’azeglio‘s phrase has become famous:

“ Fatta l’Italia bisogna fare gli italiani” = “Having made Italy, it is necessary to make Italians”

But what does this have to do with Manzoni?

Alessandro Manzoni is widely known for being the father of “I Promessi Sposi“, a cornerstone novel of Italian literature.

The writer wrote several versions of it, the first of which was entirely in his own language: Lombard. A later version, on the other hand, was written using spoken Florentine, thus a language of the people, simple and devoid of courtly words and complex constructions, in order to make his novel easily understood by most.

Manzoni’s almost obsessive search for the perfect Florentine word to include in his novel is evident in a richly detailed book about him called Le due mogli di Manzoni.

If you are curious and want to know more, I invite you to read it.