The Italian Catholic God Does Not Sit Well with American Critics

Abstract

I promessi sposiholds a central place in Italian literature as its first great historical novel.  It is hailed for having contributed significantly to the systematization of the Italian language in the prose medium. Outside of Italy, however, and particularly in America, I promessi sposiis little read. In general, it does not command the same respect as other comparable big nineteenth-century novels nor has it solicited much commentary in the English-speaking world.  It is not featured, for example, in the principal American anthologies dealing with the genre.  This paper examines why I promessi sposireceives so little attention in the US. What is it about the novel that does not suit American tastes?  This paper makes the case thatI promessi sposi’sreligious thematic hinders its popularity. I begin by considering the role religion plays in American literary studies as a scholarly topic of inquiry.  I then discuss the religious dimensions of I promessi sposi. Finally, I will investigate how the Catholic message of Manzoni’s novel may have affected its reception both at home and in the US.  I will also touch upon the role of anti-Catholic and anti-Italian nativism still prevalent in American society.