In Search of Venice

　　The best of Pushkin Press on Venice, the iconic city. Beautifully designed by David Pearson and Clare Skeats and exclusive to Pushkin Press, this box set contains the Venice literature must-reads: the contrasting voices of Paul Morand, Regis Debray, Henry James, Arthur Schnitzler and Petr Kral on the city which leaves no-one indifferent.

　　Venices by Paul Morand
　　A poetic evocation of the French ambassador’s encounters and experiences, filtered through the one constant in his life - Venice. Translated by Euan Cameron

　　Loving Venice by Petr Král
　　The Czech poet writes a love letter to a place that arouses strong and contradictory emotions and provides a portrait both intimate and universal. Translated by Christopher Moncrieff

　　Against Venice by Regis Debray
　　An irreverent and witty criticism of the world of parties and palazzo but the city loses none of its seduction, even to a skeptic. Translated by John Howe

　　Letters from the Palazzo Barbaro by Henry James
　　The great writer went to Venice and instantly fell in love with the city: this selection of letters provides a unique record of his impressions

　　Casanova’s Return to Venice by Arthur Schnitzler
　　An ageing Casanova longs to return to Venice after a life of exile. A brilliant psychological portrait two days in the life of the most famous seducer and free spirit. Translated by Ilsa Barea

作者簡介

　　Paul Morand was born in Paris in 1888 and after studying at the École des Sciences Politiques he joined the diplomatic corps, serving in London, Rome, Berne and Bucharest. His first collection of stories, Tendres Stocks (1921), had an introduction by his friend Marcel Proust. In a long and busy life, he found time to write poetry, novels, short stories and travel books. Morand was made a member of the Académie Française in 1963. He was married to the Romanian princess Hélène Soutzo, and he died in 1976. His books Hecate and Her Dogs, Tender Shoots and The Allure of Chanel are also published by Pushkin Press.

　　Petr Král, born in Prague in 1941, was a leading member of the Czech surrealist movement, studied cinema and moved to Paris in 1968. A poet, essayist and screenwriter, he has lived in Prague since 2006. His books Working Knowledge (2008) and In Search of the Essence of Place (2012) are also published by Pushkin Press.

　　Régis Debray was born in 1941. He travelled widely in Latin America, and accepted a philosophy chair in Havana. He joined Che Guevara's guerrillas in Bolivia, was arrested in 1967 and spent three years in prison. Debray has written prolifically analysing the link between intellectuals, the media and the state.

　　Henry James (1843-1916) is one of the most prominent figures of American and British Literature. Son of a clergyman, and brother of the philosopher and psychologist William James, he moved between America and Europe during his early life, eventually settling in England at the age of twenty. A prolific novelist, essayist and literary critic, James was much concerned with questions of identity, belonging, creativity and consciousness. He is perhaps most famous for his novels The Bostonians, The Portrait of a Lady, Daisy Miller and What Maisie Knew, and for his ghost story, The Turn of the Screw. Between 1906 and 1910, James revised much of his fiction for the so-called New York Edition of his complete works, adding now-famous Prefaces. In 1915, prompted by the First World War, he became a British citizen; he received the Order of Merit in 1916, shortly before his death.

　　Arthur Schnitzler was born in Vienna in 1862, the son of a prominent Jewish doctor, and studied medicine at the University of Vienna. In later years he devoted his life to writing and was successful as a novelist, dramatist and short story writer. Schnitzler's work shows a remarkable ability to create atmosphere and a profound understanding of human motives. His novels Dying and Fräulein Else are also published by Pushkin Press.