The Girl from Venice
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books |
The Girl from Venice is a historical fiction novel published in 2016 by American writer Martin Cruz Smith. The story centers on Innocenzo (Cenzo) Vianello, a fisherman residing in Pellestrina, and Giulia Silber, the daughter of an affluent Jewish family from Venice, during the early months of 1945.
Plot
Taking place in the final weeks preceding the collapse of the Italian Social Republic and the demise of Benito Mussolini, Cenzo comes to Giulia's aid after rescuing her from the water as she attempts to evade the Wehrmacht. Following her family's betrayal and subsequent capture, Giulia escapes by swimming across the Venetian Lagoon. Cenzo’s previously uncomplicated existence grows complicated as he becomes involved in helping her flee Italy.
Publication history
- Hardcover first edition: Simon & Schuster, October 2016, ISBN 978-1439140239
- Digital edition: October 2016, ISBN 978-1439153192
- UK paperback edition: July 2017, ISBN 978-1849838160
- Trade paperback release: September 2017, ISBN 978-1439140246
Reception
Reviews were varied but leaned toward positive overall. Dennis Drabelle of The Washington Post called it an "engaging new novel." Bethanne Patrick from National Public Radio commended its clear narrative and writing style as a welcome change amid more intricate storylines. In contrast, Charles Finch of The New York Times found fault with its reliance on stereotypical mid-20th-century Romantic themes and war motifs reminiscent of Hemingway.
External links
- The Girl From Venice – Official page at Martin Cruz Smith’s website (2017)
Reviews
- The Girl from Venice – Kirkus Reviews (27 July 2016)
- The Girl from Venice – Publishers Weekly (2016)
- Martin Cruz Smith's 'The Girl from Venice': a thrilling WWII-era love story – The Seattle Times (23 October 2016)
- 'The Girl From Venice,' by Martin Cruz Smith – San Francisco Chronicle (4 November 2016)
- The Girl from Venice review: Martin Cruz Smith's thriller-cum-love story – The Sydney Morning Herald (18 November 2016)
- Imagining war from the enemy's perspective – The Washington Times (1 March 2017)
- The Girl from Venice – New York Journal of Books (2017)