THE BETROTHED.
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, 8. NEW BURLINGTON STREET
(SUCCESSOR TO HENRY COLBURN):
BELL, AND BRADFUTE, EDINBURGH;
AND CUMMING, DUBLIN.
1834.
London:
Printed by A. Spottiswoode,
New-Street-Square.
CRITICAL REMARKS
on
MANZONI’S BETROTHED:
BY
THE COUNT O’MAHONY.
[Translated from the Italian.]
To publish a novel, to analyse, to eulogise it, and recommend 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 reflections to minds of a less elevated order, were it only to prove that we can talk reasonably, even on the subject of novels.