The City of Falling Angels

Taking the fire that destroyed the Fenice theatre in 1996 as his starting point, John Berendt creates a unique and unforgettable portrait of Venice and its extraordinary inhabitants. Beneath the exquisite facade of the world's most beautiful historic city, scandal, corruption and venality are rampant, and John Berendt is a master at seeking them out. Ezra Pound and his mistress, Olga; poet Mario Stefani; the Rat Man of Treviso; or Mario Moro self-styled carabiniere, fireman, soldier or airman, depending on the day of the week.

With his background in journalism, Berendt is perfectly poised to gain access to private and unapproachable people, and persuade them to talk frankly to him. The result is mischievous, witty, compelling - and destined to be the non-fiction succes d'estime of the year.

“'With his keen eye, laconic prose, and almost father-cofessor-like ability to extract self-incriminating admissions from his various interviewees, Berendt is the most urbane and entertaining guides through Venice's social labyrinth.'”

Berendt's descriptions of people and places are well-honed and he has an ear for a good yarn as well as an obvious knack for getting people to talk revealingly. - Laurence Phelan, Independent on Sunday

Berendt's descriptions of people and places are well-honed and he has an ear for a good yarn as well as an obvious knack for getting people to talk revealingly - Laurence Phelan, Independent on Sunday

Fascinating, fantastic. . . Intrigue, too, stems from the burning of the Fenice opera house in 1996 and here Berendt's enthusiasm for juicy recriminations become almost palpable. - Stephanie Cross, Observer

It's a fascinating read' - Jonathan Gibbs, Telegraph

Glittering, entertaining and anecdote-filled. - Sunday Times

The inhabitants of Venice are the real stars of the story - Sunday Telegraph

John Berendt is a journalist and former editor of New York magazine. His first book, MiIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL was an international bestseller. He lives in New York.

The warm pool of the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean is one of the most prominent features of global sea surface temperature distribution. Its variation is of uttermost importance to global climate. However, to date, there has been very few focused study on the formation, evolution, and climatic effects of the warm pool. This book represents the first organized research to focus on the variability of the warm pool and its climatic effects, in which oceanographic and atmospheric scientists work together to disclose important mechanisms that control the global climate through the warm pool variations.

Taking the fire that destroyed the Fenice theatre in 1996 as his starting point, John Berendt creates a unique and unforgettable portrait of Venice and its extraordinary inhabitants. Beneath the exquisite facade of the world's most beautiful historic city, scandal, corruption and venality are rampant, and John Berendt is a master at seeking them out. Ezra Pound and his mistress, Olga; poet Mario Stefani; the Rat Man of Treviso; or Mario Moro self-styled carabiniere, fireman, soldier or airman, depending on the day of the week.With his background in journalism, Berendt is perfectly poised to gain access to private and unapproachable people, and persuade them to talk frankly to him. The result is mischievous, witty, compelling - and destined to be the non-fiction succes d'estime of the year.

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