Reproduction of the original: Venetian Life by William Dean Howells

Venice holds a unique place in literary and cultural history. Barnes looks at the themes of war, occupation, resistance and fascism to see how the political background has affected the literary works that have come out of this great city. He focuses on key British and American writers, including Byron, Ruskin, Pound and Eliot.

This edition of Venetian Life, William Dean Howells' classic account of the beautiful Italian city famous for its majestic architecture and canals, is published with illustrations of the locations described. Howells' account tells of Venice as it was during the mid-19th century. Since that time, the city has made painstaking efforts to preserve its ancient buildings and canals; as such, many of Howells' observations remain current today. Those that aren't however constitute eye-opening accounts of how Venice was; the past traditions and customs of its people when it came to matters of trade, marriage, social events and conduct. Many of the venues Howells describes today fit the description of 'hidden gems'; small but beautiful churches which remain open yet are secluded from the bustle of the tourism hot spots. His profiles of Venice as both a summer and winter holiday destination give fine insight into a spirit of hospitality which many present-day Venetians strive to preserve. His explanations of the principle destinations, such as the Venetian opera house (Teatro La Fenice) and St. Mark's Square are eloquent and detailed, surpassing many modern travel guides with their intellectually informed and detailed tone. Howell also profiles the Venetian peoples themselves, describing their traits, behaviors and customs with affection and respect. Venetian Life is thus a valuable text for travelers soon to journey to Venice who desire a historical perspective on the beautiful city from a man who spent his life captivated by it. Should you be a scholar of art or architecture looking for an informed overview of Venice's myriad accomplishments in these fields, Howells abilities as an author will not disappoint as an introduction.

Howell's vivid account of his experiences in Venice captures both the beauty and the contradictions of the city, offering a unique perspective on its art and culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.