"The best single-volume guide to the city's past... Readers will delight in Romano's vivid accounts of Venice's constantly evolving cityscape, its architecture and its art... Few writers dare to cover the history of a single place over such an extended period. That Romano has done so is a gift." – John Jeffries Martin,
Washington Post "Romano's new history of Venice is a triumph of scholarship and satisfying storytelling. His book surpasses previous treatments by balancing sweeping narrative and the telling detail, and by covering a far greater chronological span: from the last Ice Age, some 12,000 years ago, to the present day. His skillful discussions of political, military, and economic history are enriched by examinations of artworks and topics such as spying, book publishing, the early development of opera, and climate change across millennia. Those who love Venice and want it to thrive for generations to come will be indebted to Romano's erudition and analysis." – Frederick Ilchman, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Chairman, Save Venice
"From the primordial waters of the lagoon to the touristed global Venice, Dennis Romano's book offers an eloquent and innovative account of the rise of one of the world's most beautiful cities. Romano assesses how the city on the water became so remarkable despite the many challenges its citizens faced for the past millennium and a half. By exploring many obscure byways other histories have ignored, he makes the rich history of the city and its culture come alive." – Edward Muir, Northwestern University
"This masterful summary offers a richly textured narrative of one of the longest-lived republics in history from its mythic origins to the present day and beyond. Read a chapter a day of this lengthy saga and in just three weeks you'll be rewarded with a multi-faceted view-war and peace, politics and trade, society and religion, civic ritual and the visual arts-of the full sweep of Venetian history." – Patricia Fortini Brown, author of
The Venetian Bride: Bloodlines and Blood Feuds in Venice and Its Empire"Romano's book is a marvel. It is a total history from the beginnings to Venice as it is today. Romano covers almost two millennia and offers not just an account of high politics and culture but of all those whose lives were in some fashion made by Venice. Keep a copy near your most comfortable armchair. Browse the book again and again when thoughts of your visits to this most beautiful of cities drift back into your mind (as surely they must)." – R.J.B. Bosworth, author of
Italian Venice: A History
