Can one family’s Odyssey save the most beautiful city in the world?
As a merchant for the Most Serene Republic of Venice, Alessandro Marino has built his career in market squares across the Mediterranean and beyond. In the autumn of 1379, on the eve of the Renaissance, Alessandro and his children are out on distant seas—but when the navy of archrival Genoa blockades the Venetian lagoon and brings the city to the edge of starvation, the Marino family must race home in the hope of saving their beloved city from ruin.
Young Niccolo and Serena bristle against their father’s vision of Venice, each frustrated by the paths Alessandro has chosen for them. As these three Venetians sail to save their home, Alessandro faces the even greater task of preserving the bond with his children.
Their tale, The Veneziad, weaves a historical narrative in the style of an ancient epic poem, emulating the tone and structure of classical storytelling to create a vivid medieval setting. Sail with the Marino family and see through their eyes what the great city of Venice is ultimately worth.
