This is a beautifully written book. The city of Venice is the main character...not the people in it. I love the profiles of society and the dynamics of culture. The book is sometimes haunting and you realize that the main plot of the book doesn't matter; it's the experience as a whole.

I love this book. Just suspend what you know about the authors and take them as ordinary men of the period. The plot is engrossing and the ending may surprise you. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a puzzle to solve.