
Venice
A New History
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Narrated by:
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Edoardo Ballerini
About this listen
An extraordinary chronicle of Venice, its people, and its grandeur Thomas Madden’s majestic, sprawling history of Venice is the first full portrait of the city in English in almost thirty years. Using long-buried archival material and a wealth of newly translated documents, Madden weaves a spellbinding story of a place and its people, tracing an arc from the city’s humble origins as a lagoon refuge to its apex as a vast maritime empire and Renaissance epicenter to its rebirth as a modern tourist hub. Madden explores all aspects of Venice’s breathtaking achievements: the construction of its unparalleled navy, its role as an economic powerhouse and birthplace of capitalism, its popularization of opera, the stunning architecture of its watery environs, and more. He sets these in the context of the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire, the endless waves of Crusades to the Holy Land, and the awesome power of Turkish sultans. And perhaps most critically, Madden corrects the stereotype of Shakespeare’s money-lending Shylock that has distorted the Venetian character, uncovering instead a much more complex and fascinating story, peopled by men and women whose ingenuity and deep faith profoundly altered the course of civilization.
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Venice
- By: Jan Morris
- Narrated by: Sebastian Comberti
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Venice stands, as she loves to tell you, on the frontiers of the east and west, half-way between the setting and the rising sun. Goethe calls her "the market-place of the Morning and the Evening lands". Certainly no city on earth gives a more immediate impression of symmetry and unity, or seems more patently born to greatness.
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Incredible breadth and depth!
- By Sharon Hibbert on 09-08-24
By: Jan Morris
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The Borgias
- The Hidden History
- By: G. J. Meyer
- Narrated by: Enn Reitel
- Length: 19 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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The startling truth behind one of the most notorious dynasties in history is revealed in a remarkable new account by the acclaimed author of The Tudors and A World Undone. Sweeping aside the gossip, slander, and distortion that have shrouded the Borgias for centuries, G. J. Meyer offers an unprecedented portrait of the infamous Renaissance family and their storied milieu.
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Marvelous !
- By Cinders on 08-02-13
By: G. J. Meyer
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Spice
- The 16th-Century Contest That Shaped the Modern World
- By: Roger Crowley
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Spices drove the early modern world economy, and for Europeans they represented riches on an unprecedented scale. Cloves and nutmeg could reach Europe only via a complex web of trade routes, and for decades Spanish and Portuguese explorers competed to find their elusive source. But when the Portuguese finally reached the spice islands of the Moluccas in 1511, they set in motion a fierce competition for control.
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Spice or Megellan?
- By BarbieAlaska on 06-21-24
By: Roger Crowley
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An Insider’s Guide to Venice
- Discover the Hidden Venice: Handpicked Activities, Hotels, Churches, and Museums, Coupled with the Finest Cafés, Bars, and Restaurants Favored by Locals (Insider Travel Series)
- By: Marco Ryan
- Narrated by: Paul Metcalfe
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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An Insider's Guide to Venice, the captivating second book in the Insider Travel Series, is perfect for culture enthusiasts who love to stray from the tourist path. Get hooked by Marco's anecdotes and insider tips as he reveals hidden gems tucked away in narrow streets and canals—from charming cafés to lesser-known churches. Written as though the two of you were having a conversation over an Aperol Spritz, his suggestions will help you experience Venice like a local and sidestep the tourist traps with this entertaining guide.
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So helpful!!
- By Alisha Kapani on 12-15-24
By: Marco Ryan
Terrific read
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The Doge is dead, Long Live Venice
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Excellent history book. Excellent audible narration
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Great history - very interesting
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Excellent history, well narrated
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the narrator was great
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Finally, the narrator is fabulous, listening to him adds to the overall experience. I can't say enough about the narration. And his pronunciation of the Italian words is sweet music to your ears!!
A great story of the history of Venice
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A great history and a perfect supplement before or after your visit
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Professor Madden covers: the birth of Venice, commerce, wars, arts, music and thru it all always surviving by adapting to changing circumstances. Here is a lesson to be learned.
The narrator mr. Edoardo Ballerini,as always, is a pleasure to listen to, especially narrating this book.
My thanks to all, JK
A MUST FOR HISTORY LOVERS
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Fabulous Book
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