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Venetian Vespers

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Venetian Vespers

By: John Banville
Narrated by: Luke Thompson
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About this listen

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SNOW AND THE SEA
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2025

Everything was a puzzle, everything a trap set to mystify and hinder me. . .
Winter 1899, and strange things are afoot. As the new century approaches, English hack writer Evelyn Dolman marries Laura Rensselaer, the daughter of a wealthy American plutocrat. But in the midst of a rift between Laura and her father, Evelyn's plans for a substantial inheritance look to be dashed.

Arriving in Venice for their belated honeymoon at Palazzo Dioscuri - the ancestral home of the charming but treacherous Count Barbarigo - the couple are met by a series of seemingly
otherworldly occurrences, which exacerbate Evelyn's already frayed nerves. Is it just the sea mist blanketing the floating city, or is he really losing his mind?

'A marvellous and rewarding novelist . . . He is a magician, really.' THE SCOTSMAN
'Banville has a grim gift of seeing people's souls.' DON DeLILLO
'The most eminent innovator in Irish fiction of the last 50 years.' IRISH TIMES
'One of my favourite writers alive.' REBECCA F. KUANG
'Banville writes prose of such luscious elegance.' NEW YORK TIMES

©2025 John Banville (P)2025 Faber & Faber Gothic Historical Horror Mystery
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The narrator does an absolutely sterling job of bringing this intriguing tale to life. He has captured the essence of the main character and does a fine job with the other characters’ accents and personalities. It is an evocative, suspenseful tale, perfect for walking the dog on dark, foggy evenings. It captures the spirit of Venice beautifully and kept me hooked.

Superb narration of an excellent tale

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I would suggest that Banville is as deadly as Fitzherbert of the book in as much as both work their fatal charms on women as is the case with Fitzherbert, so it is with the reader for Banville. Banville is like the Dracula who, once he bites his victims, they have the thirst for blood forever more. So it is with Banville’s readers who are always left baying for the next book. Moreover, the reader finds the credibility and intelligence of other works of fiction difficult to navigate. I can’t wait for the next book.

Banville obliterates all other authors

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Luke Thompson comes in with yet another banger of a narration and a fantastic introduction to John Banville. What a delightfully twisted little story with SUCH a dislikable and naive narrator. You find yourself egging on the surrounding characters and hoping more tragedy befalls this man. It’s a joy to listen to and with such beautiful prose. Loved it.

Don’t Look Now for the My Cousin Rachel girlies

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What a beautiful writer John Banville is. His descriptions of Venice in 1900 are so eerie and evocative it is worth reading the book for this alone. But the characters come to life, and what ghastly people they are! I found it so entertaining to get to know the idiotic "hero". The story is non - stop entertainment. You're missing out if you dont purchase this one.

An upper class twit in wintry, ghostly Venice

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As I said, a very well narrated production. The story was definitely a game of two halves. The first built the plot well with an unreliable and unlikeable character who is lead around Venice on a string. The second half made me wish it would just hurry up and get it over with, can anyone be that stupid…..!?

Excellent narration - unsatisfactory end.

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