Alessandro Manzoni 
Betrothed 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. To publish a novel, to analyse, to eulogin it, and re commend its perusal to the good and pious, will appear no doubt very extraordinary, and offend the prejudices of many who have agreed among themselves to consider a novel, whoever may be its author, and whatever may be its subject, form, and design, as a pestilent production. If you ask them why? Because, they will reply because it is a novel! The answer is as wise as it is peremptory and decisive, and we will spare ourselves the useless trouble of replying to arguments so profound and powerful. We will, however, submit a few serious redeo tions to mind: of a less elevated order, were it only to prove that we can talk reasonably, even on the subject of novels.