My Venice and Other Essays

Name: My Venice and Other Essays
Brand: Recorded Books
Availability: InStock
Author: Donna Leon
ISBN: 9798890590695

Author: Donna Leon

Narrator: Suzanne Toren

Unabridged: 7 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 10/24/2023

Categories: Nonfiction, Travel, Essays & Travelogues, Europe, Italy

Synopsis

Insightful essays on Italy and the arts from the New York Times bestselling author

Donna Leon’s wildly popular novels starring Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti have often been praised for their insight into culture, politics, family life, and the history of Venice, one of the world’s most treasured cities and her home for over thirty years. My Venice and Other Essays collects over fifty of Leon’s funny, charming, and passionate essays on subjects that range from battles over garbage in the canals to troubles with rehabbing Venetian real estate. Leon shares episodes from her life in Venice, explores her love of opera, and reflects on the Italian man. With poignant observations and humor, My Venice and Other Essaysis a treat for lovers of Italy and La Serenissima.

About Donna Leon

American author, Donna Leon, has settled nicely into a series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy entitled, Brunettixote. The novels feature the fictional character of Commissario Guido Brunetti.

Leon was born in 1942, and eventually lived in Venice, Italy for over 30 years. She was an English literature lecturer for the University of Maryland in Europe (Italy), and worked on a military base in Italy for several years, before she became a full time writer. She moved to Zurich, Switzerland, and also had a home in a smaller Swiss village.

The novels have been translated from English into several foreign languages, but for some reason the author did not approve them being translated into Italian. German television has shown 22 Commissario Brunetti episodes that they produced for broadcast.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Trish on August 10, 2016

Leon reminds us what we, the masses, like about the internet and TV criticism today: it is not always politically correct. Leon makes no attempt to please everyone. She is just telling us what she thinks about, and she doesn’t mince words. The woman who writes fascinating and thoughtful police proce......more

Goodreads review by Roberta on September 28, 2014

I admit that the main reason I was eager to get my hands on this book was to see if the author revealed anything of significance about her personal life, past and present. I’ve known for some time that Donna Leon has led an unconventional life, having lived in a variety of countries all over the wo......more

Goodreads review by Ron on December 14, 2013

As a big fan of this author's novels, I was shocked by the mean-spiritedness displayed in many of the essays in this book. I well recognize the many faults of our country, but I was quite put off by her blatant contempt of the U.S. Of course, she lives in Italy, the epitome of beautifully-governed,......more

Goodreads review by Mesa on January 10, 2023

Donna Leon is a famous mystery writer that I have never read before. So it's amazing that her essay collection wow'd me without me having any idea who she was. Her voice is undeniable and her deep love, knowledge, and righteousness for the city of Venice, opera, calling out misogyny, and appreciatin......more

Goodreads review by Ralph on June 20, 2017

Quaint. Having no interest in opera but seeing it written with such passion was rewarding. I can now talk about Handel as if I knew what I was talking about.......more