Titled “A Masterpiece Novel That Should Be an Instant Classic”
An excerpt:
“Not knowing much about Manzoni, I was delighted to hear of his powerful conversion story in the introduction. Moore explains how this writer, having absorbed the philosophy and art of Romanticism, then turned to the Catholic faith at an unexpected moment in his life. In 1810 in Paris, Manzoni and his wife were celebrating the marriage of Napoleon to Marie-Louise “when firecrackers went off, creating pandemonium” and causing crowds to panic and disperse. Separated from his wife, Manzoni found refuge in a church where he vowed to convert if the Lord brought her to him again. She discovered him on the steps of the church, and the two became Catholics together.”