Venice, An Interior was first written by Javier Marías in 1988 and was published in Spanish. When translated it was published in America in 2013 and first released in The Uk in 2016. This book actually came as part of a little 'care package' my mum sent me from England along with a few other books and I'm so glad she sent it.
In this non-fiction novella Marías details the ins-and-outs Venice, a city with which he has a love affair he can't escape, but unlike most books this is not from the point of view of a tourist. Having lived there and integrated into the closed society of The Venetians he gives a rare insight in to the 'interior' of the city. Comprising of 6 chapters this book is a in-depth yet brief introduction to all the facets of Venice.
'The Venetians' is an interesting take on the people of Venice that although somewhat critical also creates an air of mystery to surround those true Venetians. 'The Archipelago' is my favourite chapter as the geography and history of Venice has always fascinated me. This chapter chronicles the history of the islands, their ever-changing functions, as well as Marías' view of the most beautiful details of Torcello.
'The point of view of eternity' delves among the mindsets of the Venetian people and the seemly eternity that only Venice maintains. Describing a city that changes very little while the world around it shifts and moves. 'The night stroll' describes the silent beauty of Venice at night and the wonders of exploring by nighttime.
'The imaginary space' describes the six 'quarters' and their homogeneity contrasted by the seemingly different worlds that Venice's labyrinth encompasses. And finally, 'The things we carry with us' is Marías' ode to a city he loves so much and the home he made there among the people of Venice. He finalises his opinion that Venice doesn't change and isn't really allowed to so; in some ways it will always be the exact Venice he has lived in.
This book is an essential read for anyone visiting Venice, although written and published 30 years Venice is an eternal city, its streets and buildings remain unchanged and the canals still flow the same way they. Not only does this book give you an insight into the mindsets and lives of Venetians, it also gives you a deeper look at a city that is so often only renowned for its touristic value.
At 55 pages long this book is a plane ride read or a 2 evening read and makes the perfect accompaniment for a trip to Venice or as a pre-read to ignite some curiosity before you set off. At £5 this book is a steal and in my eyes is a must-read before heading to this unchanging city!