No Vulgar Hotel: The Desire and Pursuit of Venice

No Vulgar Hotel: The Desire and Pursuit of Venice, by Judith Martin

Judith Martin, author of the "Miss Manners" writings, has written a totally winning and enjoyable book about the affliction many travelers, this reviewer being one of them, have developed over their years of wandering the world: a wild adoration and affection for the city of Venice. While Venice is unique for so many, Martin captures the myriad of reasons why this "Ventophiliia" has happened consistently to so many over the years. This list includes many who have become famous with Hemingway, Peggy Guggenheim, Titian, Turner, Whistler, Richard Wagner, Robert Browning being only a portion of the list. In her humorous, always-interesting, and historically-researched writing, Martin provides those fellow-addicts of Venice as well as those who have never been with very entertaining stories of this fabled and beloved city. This book, however, left this reader wishing Martin had included more details about many of the incidents and events she writes about in her book. However, Greenwich Library has a terrific collection of materials for those who wish to learn more about Venice. That said, No Vulgar Hotel is highly recommended.
-Roy