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Novels set in Venice

34 replies

FourChimneys · 27/12/2022 20:32

My cousin is going to Venice in the spring and I'd like to buy her a book set there. Apart from the obvious Death in Venice are there other good novels? I don't think she would enjoy chick lit or sci-fi.

TIA

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Brefugee · 09/02/2023 11:02

The Thief Lord? it's actually a Children/YA but it has lovely descriptions of Venice

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 26/01/2023 10:03

So many people have mentioned Donna Leon's Brunetti novels now that I know I don't need to, but can't help myself. I've rarely read books that have such a solid feeling of place to them. Venice is the main character in all of the books, and Leon creates the feeling of the city, warts and all, exceptionally well.

Terpsichore · 26/01/2023 10:00

I’m very late to this, as ever, but Michael Dibdin's Dead Lagoon is set in Venice. A very different kind of detective fiction to Donna Leon; much more gritty.

Incidentally, Donna Leon lived in Venice for over 3 decades, hence the accuracy of her scene-setting - but she won’t allow the Brunetti books to be published in Italian as she doesn’t want them to be read locally…!

I'm not sure I’d recommend Henry James as holiday reading (or any reading, tbh), but his novella The Aspern Papers is set there. As is The Wings of the Dove, in part anyway.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 25/01/2023 18:17

Short story rather than a novel but I'd recommend Don't look now by Daphne du Maurier. An absolute masterpiece.

Taytocrisps · 25/01/2023 18:02

'The Glassblower of Murano' by Marina Fiorato. It's historical fiction - switches between 1681 and the present day.

dazzlingdeborahrose · 24/01/2023 18:47

I love miss garnetts angel and the brunetti novels. You can get a book called Brunetti's walks through venice. It guides you through some of Brunetti's walks in the book. Apparently Donna Leon was incredibly accurate in this respect.

Rauha · 22/01/2023 15:38

Titian's Boatman by Victoria Blake

Mercurial123 · 13/01/2023 14:14

Jeanette Winterson's The Passion

The Passion by Jeanette Winterson

'What you risk reveals what you value...'

The Passion is a fairy tale about survival and broken-heartedness, cruelty, obsession and madness.

Henri had a passion for Napoleon and Napoleon had a passion for chicken. From Boulogne to Moscow Henri butchered for his Emperor and never killed a single man.

Meanwhile, in Venice, the city of chance and disguises, Villanelle was born with the webbed feet of her boatman father - but in the casinos she gambled her heart and lost.

As the soldier-chef's love for Napoleon turns to hate he finds the Venetian beauty, and together they flee to the canals of darkness.

'It's a fantasy, a vivid dream... inventive and brilliant' Guardian

'As moving and funny as it is skilful, and reflects the author's formidable appetite for life' Sunday Times

JamSandle · 30/12/2022 23:24

Death in Venice

runningonberocca · 30/12/2022 23:24

City of Falling Angels - John Berendt. It’s fantastic . Same author as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Swissnotswiss · 30/12/2022 08:18

*autobiography

Swissnotswiss · 30/12/2022 08:18

Giacomo Casanova: The Story of my Life. The original 18th century biography is set in Venice and is actually a great read!

elderberryink · 29/12/2022 21:50

The Floating Book by Michelle Lovric. It must be 15 years since I read it so can't remember much about the plot, except that it's set in Venice in the 15th century with interweaving chapters set I think in Roman times and the writing was mesmerising.

Original poster
FourChimneys · 29/12/2022 21:45

I have only just noticed all the new replies, thank you so much everyone. I will do more googling but I think I will buy my cousin two or three books.

OP posts:
GracePooleslaugh · 29/12/2022 18:17

Another vote for Carnevale

Lcb123 · 29/12/2022 18:16

Us by David Nichols is one of my favourite books - quite a few chapters are set in Venice

queenofthewild · 29/12/2022 18:16

Carnevale

Venice, Casanova and Mad Bad Lord Byron.

Greydog · 29/12/2022 18:10

All the Venetian books by Philip Gwynne Jones, especially To Venice with Love, about he he packed up and went to live there

HotSauceCommittee · 29/12/2022 18:08

"Those Who Walk Away" by Patricia Highsmith is set in Venice. It's a very atmospheric book.

bigbadbarry · 29/12/2022 18:05

I loved Miss Garnet’s Angel

LetMeGoogleThat · 29/12/2022 18:04

TreesAtSea · 29/12/2022 17:22

Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth. I read it decades ago and loved it, but don't know if I'd feel differently about it now.

This, I absolutely loved it but it was a couple of years ago 🤷‍♀️

DreamingOfAGreenChristmas · 29/12/2022 18:02

Ian McKewan’s The Comfort of Strangers (clue: anything other than comforting) is surely set in Venice?

The Talented Mr Ripley, Patricia Highsmith.

Rosa · 29/12/2022 17:59

All the good ones have been mentioned . The most [true to Venice as it is now are the Donna Leon ones and you can pick out places and bars that are mentioned. Miss garnetts Angel is a lovely book . If your cousin needs help with anything I am a travel agency ( incoming ) in Venice !!

AwkwardSquad · 29/12/2022 17:52

It was some time ago now, but I remember thoroughly enjoying ‘In the Company of the Courtesan’ by Sarah Dunant, set in renaissance Venice

TreesAtSea · 29/12/2022 17:22

Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth. I read it decades ago and loved it, but don't know if I'd feel differently about it now.