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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

OP posts:
GreedyEdie · 27/12/2022 20:40

I read one called the Venice sketchbook, set in WW2, female protagonist goes to Venice to sketch, gets recruited by the allies to report on boat comings and goings.

LynnImstuckontheringroad · 27/12/2022 20:40

Donna Leon novels are set in Venice.

CatChant · 27/12/2022 20:42

Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunetti series is a very readable and non-gory detective series set in Venice.
Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord is a very intelligent, satisfying and imaginative children’s novel about two boys who run away to Venice.

RoyalCorgi · 28/12/2022 09:54

Miss Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers is quite a popular one, though I'm not that keen on it, to be honest:

www.goodreads.com/book/show/574220.Miss_Garnet_s_Angel

There's also Don't Look Now, Daphne du Maurier's story on which the famous film is based.

FourChimneys · 28/12/2022 10:25

Really good suggestions, thank you everyone. I'll do a bit of research and read some reviews.

OP posts:
TheHumanSatsuma · 28/12/2022 10:30

I loved Garden of Angels by David Hewson.

OneFrenchEgg · 28/12/2022 10:31

I love Miss Garnetts Angel ! Also the Thief Lord is a kids book but lovely.

Asheris · 29/12/2022 03:40

@lol beans I also love Venice sketchbook

Riverlee · 29/12/2022 13:28

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen was my first thought also.

Also Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley.(Italy in general, rather than 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.

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

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 !!

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.

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 🤷‍♀️

bigbadbarry · 29/12/2022 18:05

I loved Miss Garnet’s Angel

HotSauceCommittee · 29/12/2022 18:08

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

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

queenofthewild · 29/12/2022 18:16

Carnevale

Venice, Casanova and Mad Bad Lord Byron.

Lcb123 · 29/12/2022 18:16

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

GracePooleslaugh · 29/12/2022 18:17

Another vote for Carnevale

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:
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.

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!

Swissnotswiss · 30/12/2022 08:18

*autobiography

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