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Venice (Italy) -- Fiction Books
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Thomas Mann
Death in Venice
"Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann is a novella published in 1912. It follows Gustav von Aschenbach, a disciplined writer in his fifties, who travels to Venice seeking respite. There, he becomes increasingly obsessed with Tadzio, a beautiful adolescent boy from a Polish family staying at his hotel. As Aschenbach's fascination intensifies, he abandons his former restraint and dignity. Meanwhile, a deadly cholera epidemic spreads through Venice—a danger he chooses to ignore rather than lose sight of the boy who has consumed his thoughts.
Henry James
The Aspern Papers
"The Aspern Papers" by Henry James is a novella published in 1888. A nameless narrator travels to Venice with a singular obsession: to obtain the private letters of Jeffrey Aspern, a deceased American poet. His target is Juliana Bordereau, the poet's aged former lover, who guards these precious documents. To gain access, the narrator poses as a lodger and considers courting Juliana's plain niece, Miss Tita. James crafts a suspenseful tale about the ethical boundaries of biographical pursuit, where desire for literary treasure collides with human dignity and privacy.
Thomas Mann
Der Tod in Venedig
"Der Tod in Venedig" by Thomas Mann is a novella written in 1911. It tells the story of Gustav von Aschenbach, a celebrated writer in his fifties who travels to Venice for rest. There, he becomes fascinated by a beautiful young boy staying at his hotel. As Aschenbach surrenders to his late-life infatuation, he abandons the strict discipline that defined his existence. Meanwhile, a cholera epidemic secretly spreads through the city, setting the stage for what Mann called "the tragedy of a degradation."
Wilkie Collins
The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice
"The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice" by Wilkie Collins is a mystery novel written during the late 19th century. The story centers around Doctor Wybrow, a renowned London physician, who encounters a mysterious lady seeking his help concerning her mental state, while hints of a deeper intrigue involving her unexpected marriage, her troubled past, and the enigmatic circumstances surrounding her fiancé emerge. The beginning of the novel introduces Doctor Wybrow as he reluctantly agrees to see a foreign lady, described with a ghostly pallor and striking black eyes, who fears she may be going mad. She tells the doctor about her impending marriage to a man who was previously engaged to another woman, prompting her to feel a strange, foreboding sense of dread upon meeting that woman. The opening sets a tone of suspense and curiosity, as the doctor grapples with the peculiar nature of his patient while the dark undertones of her narrative unfold, hinting at the supernatural and moral complexities that will likely permeate the story.
Henry James
The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2
"The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2" by Henry James is a novel published in 1902. It follows Milly Theale, a wealthy young American heiress facing a fatal illness, and the people drawn into her orbit. Among them are Kate Croy and Merton Densher, two Londoners desperate to marry but lacking money. As Milly's health deteriorates, a complex plan emerges that will test the boundaries of love, morality, and self-interest. What begins in London culminates in Venice, where hidden motives and concealed engagements unravel with devastating consequences.
M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon
The Venetians : $b A novel
"The Venetians" by M. E. Braddon is a sensation novel published in 1893. The story follows John Vansittart, an English gentleman who flees Venice after killing a man in a violent altercation during Carnival. Three years later, now safely back in England, he falls in love with Eve Marchant—only to discover a devastating connection between her and his dark secret. As guilt, deception, and forbidden love intertwine across England and Italy, John must face the consequences of that fatal night.
Friedrich Schiller
The Ghost-Seer; or the Apparitionist; and Sport of Destiny
"The Ghost-Seer; or the Apparitionist; and Sport of Destiny" by Friedrich Schiller is a novel published between 1787 and 1789. A German prince visits Venice during carnival and becomes entangled in a web of supernatural events and secret conspiracies. As a Jesuit society plots to convert him to Catholicism and claim political power, the prince struggles between passion and duty, reason and mystery. Blending Gothic elements with Enlightenment philosophy, this unfinished work became Schiller's most popular during his lifetime.
E. Temple (Ernest Temple) Thurston
The city of beautiful nonsense
"The City of Beautiful Nonsense" by E. Temple Thurston is a novel published in 1909. This best-selling work earned Thurston the label of sentimentalist, a designation he acknowledged himself. The novel's romantic appeal inspired two British film adaptations, one in 1919 and another in 1935. Thurston later wrote a sequel titled "The World of Wonderful Reality" in 1919, continuing the themes that made the original a commercial success despite criticism of its sentimentality.
William Dean Howells
The Lady of the Aroostook
"The Lady of the Aroostook" by William Dean Howells is a novel written in 1879. Nineteen-year-old Lydia Blood embarks on a transatlantic voyage aboard the Aroostook, the only woman among male passengers, traveling to Venice to pursue her singing career. During the journey, she encounters wealthy Bostonian James Staniford, whose initial condescension transforms into fascination. As storms rage and tensions mount between passengers, Lydia navigates unexpected relationships, jealousy, and danger at sea—a voyage that will forever change her passage from sheltered innocence to worldly experience.
Lawrence Turnbull
A Golden Book of Venice
"A Golden Book of Venice" by Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull is a historical romance set in the 16th century. This richly detailed narrative takes readers into the vibrant city of Venice, capturing its art, culture, and social dynamics during a time of significant philosophical and artistic development. The story introduces a variety of characters entwined in the cultural tapestry of Venice, as they navigate personal and intellectual contests, with a particular focus on a young and promising boy named Pierino, who finds himself at the center of a philosophical debate involving the learned friars of the era. The opening of the novel immerses the reader in a bustling scene at the Campo San Rocco on a beautiful November day in 1565. Enhanced by vivid descriptions, we observe an energetic crowd gathering at the church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, anxious to witness a significant philosophical contest between the friars of the Frari and the Servi. The narrative introduces key figures, including Pierino, a bright young boy who is about to be thrust into the limelight of this debate, and his supportive family members, including his brother Ambrogio and mother Isabella, who are invested in his success. The initial chapters intricately weave together the lively public festivities with a deeper exploration of Venice's intellectual currents, setting a stage for both personal and communal tales of ambition, love, and the pursuit of knowledge.
William Dean Howells
A Foregone Conclusion
"A Foregone Conclusion" by William Dean Howells is a novel written during the late 19th century. This literary work delves into themes of aspiration, misunderstanding, and the intersections between personal ambition and societal expectation through the character of Don Ippolito, a priest and inventor who seeks recognition and opportunity in Venice amid his numerous inventions. At the start of the novel, we meet Don Ippolito as he navigates the streets of Venice, reflecting his anxious disposition while visiting the American consulate. He seeks assistance from Mr. Ferris, a consul who views him with suspicion, particularly after learning that Don Ippolito is an Austrian subject attempting to secure a passport to America. In his earnestness, he presents a unique weapon he believes could aid the Union Army, but faces rejection and skepticism. The opening chapters provide insight into both characters—how they represent broader themes of cultural misunderstanding and idealism versus practicality, particularly as Don Ippolito exudes hope interlaced with disappointment in his aspirations for invention and acceptance.
Henry James
The Wings of the Dove, Volume II
"The Wings of the Dove, Volume II" by Henry James is a novel published in 1902. It follows American heiress Milly Theale, who is gravely ill, as she becomes entangled with two desperate Londoners: Kate Croy and Merton Densher. The engaged but impoverished couple cannot afford to marry. When Kate devises a manipulative plan involving Milly's fortune, the story moves from London to Venice, where matters of love, money, and mortality collide with devastating consequences for all involved.
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