The City of Falling Angels
John Berendt
Sceptre, $35

A rriving in Venice in February 1996 just after fire had destroyed La Fenice, the city's much-loved opera theatre, John Berendt realised that he was witness to an extraordinary Italian melodrama, as conspiracy theories flourished and died, officials refused to accept responsibility and disputes broke out over the future of the building.

Here was a heaven-sent starting point for what was to become a sweeping, captivating, mischievous, witty and quirky look at this most romantic, yet decadent of cities.

Venice is truly the hero of the book and the supporting cast includes virtually everyone of note who visited or resided in the city over the last several hundred years.

Robert Browning, Henry James, Ezra Pound, Peggy Guggenheim, Lord and Lady McAlpine and countless other famous names jostle with descendants of doges (rulers), princes and clerics for space on its crowded pages along with fascinating folk unknown except to their city neighbours.

Berendt writes about feuds, acts of kindness and cruelty, masked balls, corruption — an accepted way of life — arts, crafts and skills peculiar to the city-state and, just when you think you've read it all, drops another breathtaking fact into his mix.

Scott Whitmont is the owner of The Lindfield Bookshop.