Tuesday, February 21, 2012

to read, books about Venice


Cara writes: "Maybe Norwich for straight history. Jan Morris for wonderful writing. Mary McCarthy for being Mary McCarthy. Joseph Brodsky for a completely singular book on Venice by a completely singular mind."

Matteo Casini writes: "The book by Crouzet-Pavan is a good book in between scholarship and the larger public. Two books I always loved are Ruskin and Pemble, Venice rediscovered. The classical guide for all secrets of Venice is Lorenzetti. (Cara: "smallish type and long, but critical"). I heard good things about the revised edition of Jan Morris and Crowley's account on the Venetian Empire."

Predrag has
but is undisciplined about reading them. So far, finished only Berendt - it is deliriously hilarious, Italy is Italy, but Venice is clearly still another level.

Cara writes: "Dream of Venice by Charles Christopher. J.G. Links is okay. There is an intriguing book (almost a novel) but actually based on family documents that were found. Very pleasurable. I thought the Berendt book was the biggest piece of junk I have ever read about Venice. Sorry. I know you enjoyed it but please do not take one iota of it seriously as a portrait of Venice. The Venetians were furious at him, and not because he was spot on. Quite the opposite. I think he was desperate to get another book out after all the years that had passed Since Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and did this miserably forced and false book."