Andrea Di Robilant

This is the story of the creation of the "Navigationi et Viaggi," in three volumes, by Giovanni Battista Ramusio. The Navigationi provided maps and information on Brazil, Africa, India, the Spice Islands, Asia and even the American SW and Canada! But how did Ramusio accomplish this? Despite numerous threats from the Holy Roman Empire and France, Venice had an ambassador at every court. As a magistrate, Ramusio used his political connections to pursue his true passion: travel writings. He managed to obtain a first hand account of Magellan's circumnavigation, Cadamosto's exploration of West Africa, Verrazano's trip from SC to Nova Scotia and Vathema's 7-year journey to India. All are incredibly rare copies, even then. But Ramusio's most impressive effort was incorporating a thorough study of the Travels of Marco Polo.

The structure of this book is what stands out the most. It's not a biography of Ramusio, although he is the center at which all these stories culminate. It's rather a collection of vignettes, all of which contributed to Ramusio's final creation. It did take me a few chapters to catch on to this method though, so I encourage readers to stick with it. The only downside is that the timeline can be hard to follow. I expected overlap, of course, but the vignettes are in order of Ramusio's acquisition (I believe?) and not necessarily in chronological order of events. But considering the Age of Discovery, we are always taught about the Spanish, the English and the Portuguese, never the Venetians. Di Robilant definitely counters that omission. Even during war, 16th c. Venezia successfully established trade routes, explored new territories, and, thanks to Ramusio, was the premier source for geographical knowledge.… (mehr)

The blurb at the back of this book makes you except a love story of shakespearian proportions.

Instead what you get is a story about two young people who has a brief relationship before she has to travel abroad and he stays behind. To continue to lead the leisurely life of a 18th century noble (drink,play cards and get involved with other women

All the while she is in France (pregnant and poor)

Its true that they knew Casanova and he figures in the plot.

But would a true friend really pretend to be able to perform an abortion?!

A more accurate title of this book would have been A Venetian Affair: A True Tale of Relationships in the 18th Century

Its not all bad though...you get to learn a little bit about 18th century Venice.

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Heillandi frásögn af lífi Luciu í Feneyjum. Hún var dóttir virts en fátæks aðalsmanns sem nær þó að gifta hana í vel efnaða fjölskyldu. Í umróti Napóleónsstyrjaldanna umgengst hún náið frægustu valdafjölskyldur Austurríkis og Frakklands, þ.á m. Jósefínu keisaraynju Frakka. Merkust eru þó mikil og gagnmerk bréfaskrif hennar og Pauline systur hennar sem gefa einstakt innsæi í daglegt amstur Luciu við barneignir, fósturmissi, framhjáhald, veikindi og fjárhagskröggur svo eitthvað sé nefnt.… (mehr)