Great books About Venice
Jan 14th, 2006, 12:52 PM
#42
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It may be difficult to locate because it may be out of print, but I found “Effie in Venice” by Mary Lutyens well worth reading. The book has compiled the letters home of Effie Gray Ruskin, the wife of John Ruskin, during their travels from 1849-1852. It’s an interesting companion piece to “Stones of Venice” (in my opinion.) I was able to see the city from the viewpoint of this woman who seemed to shed some inhibitions and find a bit of empowerment.
Also, "Venetian Stories" by Jane Turner Rylands, the wife of the director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Jane herself was pretty much maligned by Paula Weidinger in "Venetian Dreaming" but I found this an interesting read. It is twelve vignettes of everyday lives of in different social settings, all interconnected.
I see there is a second set of her stories that came out late last year, called "Across the Bridge of Sighs: More Venetian Stories." Guess I'd better pick that up and give it a try!
Also, "Venetian Stories" by Jane Turner Rylands, the wife of the director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Jane herself was pretty much maligned by Paula Weidinger in "Venetian Dreaming" but I found this an interesting read. It is twelve vignettes of everyday lives of in different social settings, all interconnected.
I see there is a second set of her stories that came out late last year, called "Across the Bridge of Sighs: More Venetian Stories." Guess I'd better pick that up and give it a try!
Jan 14th, 2006, 02:59 PM
#43
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An obscure but wonderful novel of Venice is Robert Dessaix's "Night Letters." It is a modern day tale with stories from the distant past embedded. Simply gorgeous.
I have to vote with those who did NOT enjoy "City of Falling Angels." The whole time I was reading I felt that the author was desperate to do with the La Fenice fire what he'd done with the Savannah murder in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The material simply wasn't there. And the investigation of the fire itself--BORING!! Thank goodness for some of the peripheral stories, like the gossipy, dark side of the Save Venice Foundation.
I have to vote with those who did NOT enjoy "City of Falling Angels." The whole time I was reading I felt that the author was desperate to do with the La Fenice fire what he'd done with the Savannah murder in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The material simply wasn't there. And the investigation of the fire itself--BORING!! Thank goodness for some of the peripheral stories, like the gossipy, dark side of the Save Venice Foundation.
Jan 14th, 2006, 03:02 PM
#44
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Also, watch the movie "The Wings of the Dove" with Helena Bonham Carter. There's a moving funeral at the island of San Michele and sumptuous shots inside Venetian Palazzi. One of these Palazzi was even mentioned in John Berendt's book. I'm sure the Henry James novel is wonderful, but haven't read it myself.
Jan 14th, 2006, 03:27 PM
#45
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I read A Venetian Affair and loved it.It was not at all as I expected. The story of two lovers was constructed based on the love letters found in a Venetian attic. It gives you the opportunity to see how people spoke and socially interactedin eighteenth century Venice-fascinating!
Jan 14th, 2006, 05:09 PM
#46
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Krix:
If you think Jane Rylands was "maligned" in "Venetian Dreaming," read "The City of Falling Angels" for what seems to be a fairly strong case that she and her husband did Olga Rudge's family out of a great deal of money.
If you think Jane Rylands was "maligned" in "Venetian Dreaming," read "The City of Falling Angels" for what seems to be a fairly strong case that she and her husband did Olga Rudge's family out of a great deal of money.
Jan 15th, 2006, 06:46 AM
#47
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Besides "A Venetian Affair" I'd vote for "A Sentimental Guide to Venice", by Diego Valeri, probably out of print now. For photos of the enchanted city check the site of Eva O., a Finnish photographer who lives there. www.studioimmaginovenezia.com
Jan 15th, 2006, 02:01 PM
#49
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Massagediva......I also found the Venetian Affair fascinating....a glimpse inside Venezia in the mid to late 1700's.
Wasn't it the most co-dependent relationship??? Lots of bickering.....too real!!
I just found the most amazing book.
Venice of To-Day...by F Hopkinson Smith. Published in 1894.
It is an oversized book.....a diary of her trip to Venezia....full of her watercolors, drawings & ink drawings. Only 500 were published....it is wonderful!
Wasn't it the most co-dependent relationship??? Lots of bickering.....too real!!
I just found the most amazing book.
Venice of To-Day...by F Hopkinson Smith. Published in 1894.
It is an oversized book.....a diary of her trip to Venezia....full of her watercolors, drawings & ink drawings. Only 500 were published....it is wonderful!
Jan 15th, 2006, 02:06 PM
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There is an Italian film called Bread and Tulips that is the story of a wife and mother on tour who gets left behind, and goes to Venice. She leaves her family( who don't appreciate her), and gets a job in Venice in a flower shop. Meets a man- stay or go back?
Obviously there is much more to the movie--but it is fun for anyone who has dreamed of running away to Venice!
Obviously there is much more to the movie--but it is fun for anyone who has dreamed of running away to Venice!
Jan 15th, 2006, 08:33 PM
#53
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Cigalechanta....I read Comfort of Strangers while I was in Venice.....it was perfect!! A strange pychotic tale!!
Have you seen the movie w/ Christopher Walken, Helen Mirren, Natasha Richardson & Rupert Everet? Very well done.....and visually stunning!!
Massagediva...I'm finishing up...A Venetian Affair....sometimes I burst out laughing.....the manipulation is staggering!!
Have you seen the movie w/ Christopher Walken, Helen Mirren, Natasha Richardson & Rupert Everet? Very well done.....and visually stunning!!
Massagediva...I'm finishing up...A Venetian Affair....sometimes I burst out laughing.....the manipulation is staggering!!
quot;A Literary Companion to Venice, including seven walking tours" by Ian Littlewood.
Jan 31st, 2006, 06:29 AM
#55
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A World by Itself: Tradition and Change in the Venetian Lagoon
by Shirley Guiton (published 1977)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0241894344
I'm reading this now. I've skipped around a bit, so I started with the first-person accounts of people who have been farming in the islands around the Venetian lagoon, and who families have been doing so for centuries. I wonder how many of these people there are now. It was a very hard life. This is one aspect of Venice that I hadn't really considered.
by Shirley Guiton (published 1977)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0241894344
I'm reading this now. I've skipped around a bit, so I started with the first-person accounts of people who have been farming in the islands around the Venetian lagoon, and who families have been doing so for centuries. I wonder how many of these people there are now. It was a very hard life. This is one aspect of Venice that I hadn't really considered.
Jun 28th, 2006, 09:14 AM
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If you liked Francesco da Mosto's Venice book, you may be interested to know they've just published his book on Italy. We're watching the companion series, Italy from Top to Toe on BBC, very entertaining.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...749544-4235828
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...749544-4235828
Jun 28th, 2006, 09:15 AM
#59
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OK, looks like I have to tinyurl that one:
http://tinyurl.com/rsved
http://tinyurl.com/rsved
Jun 29th, 2006, 02:24 AM
#60
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I've been reading these books about curious facts, places, legends and misteries about Venice and the isles of the lagoon.
www.venetianlegends.it
The website speaks for itself. Two of them are available in English and the pictures featured in the books are beautiful. I think the books are excellent.
I have also read a book called "Nero Veneziano" written by Claudio dell'Orso. The book compiles 21 unresolved crimes that took place in Venice from the 1500's to the present.
www.elzeviro.com
There's some information about that book (and others) on that website. It's in Italian, though.
www.venetianlegends.it
The website speaks for itself. Two of them are available in English and the pictures featured in the books are beautiful. I think the books are excellent.
I have also read a book called "Nero Veneziano" written by Claudio dell'Orso. The book compiles 21 unresolved crimes that took place in Venice from the 1500's to the present.
www.elzeviro.com
There's some information about that book (and others) on that website. It's in Italian, though.
