Immersed in its libertine culture, he wrote some of his most iconic poetry, such as Beppo, Don Juan and Ode to Venice.

Explore the connection between the modernist poet and the city that would shape his artistic and spiritual journey.   

Joseph Brodsky's Love for Venice. Joseph Brodsky's Love for Venice. Profound, poetic, and deeply personal, this attraction was immortalized in his 1989 essay Watermark. In this work, Venice emerges not only as a city of exile and reflection but as a transcendent,...

. Explore his deep connection to Venice, that inspired his novel, Across the River and Into the Trees. First published in 1950, it follows the protagonist Colonel Richard Cantwell, an aging and wounded American soldier, based in northern Italy.

Explore his haunting 1912 novella, that inspired the exploration of homosexuality, repression and desire. Set in the sultry backdrop of early 20th-century Venice, this tale follows Gustav von Aschenbach, a renowned German writer, as he grapples with obsession, beauty, and mortality.

Explores his multifaceted relationship with Venice, a city that captivated his imagination throughout his life and became a recurring presence. 

In The Merchant of Venice and Othello, he portrays the city as morally complex, and explores themes of justice, race, religion, and appearance.

From William Shakespeare to Henry James and Ernest Hemingway: a Cross-Generational Literary Muse. Following this introduction, we will in a future series of blogs posts, dive deeper into literary works about Venice…