Venice: The Lion, the City and the Water

For over fifty years, celebrated author Cees Nooteboom has been captivated by the city of Venice, that “absurd combination of power, money, genius and great art.” Beginning with his first visit in 1964, Nooteboom deftly weaves together his many travels to the floating city, vividly bringing to life this remarkable place that he has loved for decades.

Surrounded by the dead, he pays homage to the painters and writers who lived and worked there, to the palaces, bridges, painting, and sculpture that give the city a kind of immortality. He does a marvellous job of capturing the atmosphere and ancient spirit of the place. This is a radiant tribute to Venice, in the vein of Steinbeck, Forster, or Theroux.