"Refreshing and delightful. Begley and Muhlstein manage to combine in one volume the innocent ardor of a first-time visitor and the seasoned appreciation of longtime lovers."--Don George, National Geographic Traveler
"This is an unconventional introduction that captures the spirit both of La Serenissima and of what Thomas Mann called "the slightly foul odor of sea and swamp.". . . fresh insights both from the writers who are quoted and the authors themselves: and the novella is a gem."--Andrew Taylor, Times Literary Supplement (UK)
"A charming collection of writing and memoirs of the most romantic of cities."--The Daily Express (UK)