Laughing with Manzoni

On the occasion of the publication of The Betrothed
A new translation by Michael F. Moore of Alessandro Manzoni’s I promessi sposi

Lecture
Laughing with Manzoni
Parodies of The Betrothed in Comics and TV

Presentations by
Serena Moscardelli, Ph.D. Candidate in Italian Studies
Anita Quero, Ph.D. Candidate in Italian Studies

Introduced by
Eugenio Refini, NYU

In ENGLISH

The fortunes and misfortunes of Alessandro Manzoni in Italian culture are tightly related to the writer’s place in the national “canon” of literary authors. Imposed onto generations of students in Italian schools, The Betrothed has, for better or for worse, entered Italy’s collective imagination. Fruitful insights into the ways in which the most important novel of the Italian literary tradition has informed both high and popular culture come from the numerous parodies that have retold the story of Renzo and Lucia. This conversation will focus on adaptations of The Betrothed into comics and TV, including the Disney parodies and the acclaimed 1990 TV adaptation by the notorious Trio Lopez-Marchesini-Solenghi. Brace yourself for some serious fun!