L'Orlando innamorato: an Italian book for beginners (A2)
Matteo Maria Boiardo · adapted by Alessio Insegnante · CEFR level A2
Matteo Maria Boiardo's classic (1483), rewritten for learners of Italian at level A2: calibrated sentences, footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions in every chapter.
In production · soon in 6×9 paperback and on Kindle
The plot of L'Orlando innamorato
Paris. King Charlemagne has invited every knight in the world — friends and enemies — to a great tournament. Then a girl nobody has ever seen walks into the hall: her name is Angelica, she comes from the East, and she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Within one evening, every knight is in love. Even Orlando, the strongest warrior alive, who has never loved anyone.
What follows is a chase across the world: enchanted forests, magic fountains that swap love and hate, a golden lance that never loses, giants, wizards and dragons — while armies larger than any city come from the sea. The poem that taught Italy how to tell adventures, openly continued by the Orlando furioso.
Why read L'Orlando innamorato to learn Italian
Fantasy adventure before fantasy existed: duels, wizards and dragons keep the pace racing, and at A2 pace is everything. The narrative structures repeat (challenge → duel → spell) and become natural scaffolding for comprehension.
Inside this reader
CEFR adaptation
The text is fully rewritten for level A2, with controlled vocabulary and syntax, while staying faithful to the original plot.
Footnotes and glossary
Footnotes on difficult words and a final glossary, so you can read independently without a dictionary.
Comprehension questions
Every chapter ends with questions to check understanding, just like in class.
Paperback and ebook
6×9 paperback on cream paper, or Kindle ebook. The same text also lives in the ti app.
Language focus: what you practise
In this level-A2 edition you mainly practise imperfetto versus passato prossimo, the simple future, direct and indirect pronouns. The vocabulary revolves around knights, magic and adventure: the key words, with translations, are in the glossary below and recur throughout the text, so you learn them in context.
Essential glossary (Italian · English · Dutch)
| Italian | English | Dutch |
|---|---|---|
| il cavaliere | knight | de ridder |
| il torneo | tournament | het toernooi |
| l'incantesimo | spell | de betovering |
| la lancia | lance | de lans |
| il duello | duel | het duel |
| il mago | wizard | de tovenaar |
| il gigante | giant | de reus |
| l'amore | love | de liefde |
About the author: Matteo Maria Boiardo
Matteo Maria Boiardo (1441–1494), count of Scandiano and poet at the court of Ferrara, invented the great Italian chivalric romance with L'Orlando innamorato. His poem breaks off in mid-verse, as «Italy goes up in flames» in the French invasion.
Details and difficulty level
A2 is solid elementary Italian: still simple sentences, but with the imperfetto, the future tense and a wider vocabulary. This reader suits learners with a few months of Italian who want to finish their first complete story. Format: 6×9 paperback on cream paper or Kindle ebook; 20 chapters with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions. All level A2 books →
Frequently asked questions
What level of Italian do I need to read L'Orlando innamorato?
This edition of L'Orlando innamorato is rewritten for CEFR level A2. A2 is solid elementary Italian: still simple sentences, but with the imperfetto, the future tense and a wider vocabulary. This reader suits learners with a few months of Italian who want to finish their first complete story.
Is this Matteo Maria Boiardo's original text?
No, it is an adaptation: the plot and spirit of Matteo Maria Boiardo's original remain, but vocabulary and syntax are rewritten for level A2, with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions at the end of every chapter.
When is it coming out?
The book is in production and will be on Amazon soon, in paperback and as a Kindle ebook. The same text already lives in the ti app.
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