Venetian Vespers
Venetian Vespers by John Banville, published by Faber & Faber, Limited on September 25, 2025, is a historical fiction novel set in the winter of 1899. The story follows Evelyn Dolman, an English hack writer, who marries Laura Rensselaer, the daughter of a wealthy American. As they embark on their honeymoon in Venice, tensions arise between Laura and her father, complicating Evelyn’s hopes for a substantial inheritance. The couple’s stay at Palazzo Dioscuri, the ancestral home of the enigmatic Count Barbarigo, is marked by a series of unsettling occurrences that challenge Evelyn’s grasp on reality.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines elements of the supernatural with gothic undertones, exploring themes of body, mind, and spirit. As the new century looms, the atmospheric setting of Venice becomes a character in itself, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. The story delves into Evelyn’s psychological turmoil as he grapples with the strange happenings around him, raising questions about sanity and perception. This edition spans 368 pages and is presented in English, inviting readers into a world where the boundaries between reality and the otherworldly blur.
Official synopsis Publisher
FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SNOW AND THE SEA
Everything was a puzzle, everything a trap set to mystify and hinder me. . .
Winter 1899, and strange things are afoot. As the new century approaches, English hack writer Evelyn Dolman marries Laura Rensselaer, the daughter of a wealthy American plutocrat. But in the midst of a rift between Laura and her father, Evelyn’s plans for a substantial inheritance look to be dashed.
Arriving in Venice for their belated honeymoon at Palazzo Dioscuri – the ancestral home of the charming but treacherous Count Barbarigo – the couple are met by a series of seemingly
otherworldly occurrences, which exacerbate Evelyn’s already frayed nerves. Is it just the sea mist blanketing the floating city, or is he really losing his mind?
‘A marvellous and rewarding novelist . . . He is a magician, really.’ THE SCOTSMAN
‘Banville has a grim gift of seeing people’s souls.’ DON DeLILLO
‘The most eminent innovator in Irish fiction of the last 50 years.’ IRISH TIMES
‘One of my favourite writers alive.’ REBECCA F. KUANG
‘Banville writes prose of such luscious elegance.’ NEW YORK TIMES
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