Venices by Paul Morand A poetic evocation of the French ambassador's encounters and experiences, filtered through the one constant in his life - Venice. Translated by Euan Cameron * 256ppLoving Venice by Petr Kral The Czech poet writes a love letter to a place that arouses strong and contradictory emotions and provides a portrait both intimate and universal. Translated by Christopher Moncrieff * 96ppAgainst Venice by Regis Debray An irreverent and witty criticism of the world of parties and palazzo but the city loses none of its seduction, even to a skeptic. Translated by John Howe * 80ppLetters from the Palazzo Barbaro by Henry James The great writer went to Venice and instantly fell in love with the city: this selection of letters provides a unique record of his impressions * 224ppCasanova's Return to Venice by Arthur Schnitzler An ageing Casanova longs to return to Venice after a life of exile. A brilliant psychological portrait two days in the life of the most famous seducer and free spirit. Translated by Ilsa Barea * 192pp

Author Biography

Paul Morand (1888-1976) was born in Paris and, after studying at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques, joined the diplomatic corps, serving in London, Rome, Berne and Bucharest. In a long and busy life, he found time to write poetry, novels, short stories and travel books. Married to a Romanian Princess, he was made a member of the Academie Francaise in 1968. Regis Debray was born in 1941. He travelled widely in Latin America, and accepted a philosophy chair in Havana. He joined Che Guevara's guerrillas in Bolivia, was arrested in 1967 and spent three years in prison. Debray has written prolifically analysing the link between intellectuals, the media and the state. Henry James (1843-1916) is one of the most prominent figures of American and British Literature. A prolific novelist, essayist and literary critic, James was much concerned with questions of identity, belonging, creativity and consciousness. He is perhaps most famous for his novels The Bostonians and The Portrait of a Lady, and for his ghost story The Turn of the Screw. Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931) was born in Vienna, the son of a prominent Jewish doctor, and studied medicine at the University of Vienna. In later years he devoted his time to writing and was successful as a novelist, dramatist and short story writer. Schnitzler's work shows a remarkable ability to create atmosphere and a profound understanding of human motives. Antal Szerb was born in Budapest in 1901. Best known in the West as a novelist and short story writer, he was also a prolific scholar whose interests ranged widely across the whole field of European literature. Debarred from a university post by reason of his Jewish ancestry, he taught in a commercial secondary school until increasing persecution led to his brutal death in a labour camp, in 1945. Yet the tone of his writing is almost always deceptively light, the fierce intelligence softened by a gentle tolerance, wry humour and understated irony. Pushkin Press's publications of Szerb's work include his novels Journey by Moonlight, Oliver VII and The Pendragon Legend, as well as the short story collection Love in a Bottle and the history The Queen's Necklace.