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Stones, Stories, and Bellinis from La Serenissima.
By John Ruskin
Henry James wrote: "Among the many strange things that have befallen Venice, she has had the good fortune to become the object of a passion to a man of splendid genius…." That genius was John Ruskin, whose unparalleled absorption in the buildings, art, and culture of the city found expression in this classic work.
By Jan Morris
Sometimes it seems as though no writer has visited Venice without producing a volume in honor of the trip. Of the hundreds of books the city has inspired, few have stood the test of time as well as Jan Morris's vivid portrait of the city, written with a traveler's alertness and a historian's erudition and attention.
By Harry Cipriani
Located on the Calle Vallaresso overlooking the Grand Canal, the legendary Harry's Bar has been the haunt of fabled patrons and the epicenter of Venetian elegance for several generations. It's a story as much as a restaurant, and there's no better teller of this tale of taste and memory than Harry himself. With recipes.
By Donna Leon
Leon's stylishly written, well-constructed, deliciously atmospheric mysteries--deftly set in modern Venice--offer sophisticated entertainment, with a detective, Commissario Guido Brunetti, who is the best of company (his wife Paola is a most engaging acquaintance as well). This is the first of the series' 20 books.
By Andrea di Robilant
A carton of old love letters discovered by the author's father supplied the raw material for this true story of 18th-century Venice. The lovers--Andrea Memmo, a Venetian statesman, and the half-English Giustinianna Wynne--are as bold as their contemporary, Casanova, and their romance is filled with historical intrigue.
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With dates announced for his upcoming Old Ideas concert tour, we celebrate the inimitable Leonard Cohen: bard, survivor, legend. His most recent album is a return to form for the balladeer, exploring signature themes of lust and longing, spirituality and struggle, all overlaid with a droll sense of humor as familiar as Cohen's prophetic voice.
When Jack Luxton hears that his estranged brother has been killed in combat, long-buried memories begin to well up like groundwater, and difficult choices Jack thought he reconciled himself to years ago turn out to be close at hand. Man Booker Prize-winner Graham Swift's novel plumbs timeless themes of regret, renewal, and the bonds of love.
The opening story in Matthew Battles's electric collection, "The Dogs in the Trees", documents the inexplicable appearance of arboreal canines. Further gorgeous fantastika follows, producing a volume sure to draw comparisons to Borges and George Saunders.
