The Venetian's Wife: A Strangely Sensual Tale of a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis

by Nick Bantock

Book Overview

Nick Bantock's illustrated novel, The Venetian's Wife , is part love story, part mystery, and part ghostly tale--and an altogether bewitching brew of sensuality and lost treasures. Thoroughly bored... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811811409
• ISBN13: 9780811811408
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.0" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Different Type of Book, Great Read

This is a great book for anyone interested in art, computer science, the Renaissance and Italy, or Indian mythology and religion. Bantock strikes again with his "illustrated correspondence" in which he mixes technology and modern ideas with Renaissance intrigue and thought of the lost manuscript of an ancient Indian manuscript. The reader will find themselves lost in the emails and correspondence between Sara (the protagonist) and her mysterious mentor, as she finds the mystery behind the manuscript and finds herself in a sensual journey about the power of love.

An eerie story

... but I mean that in a good way. Sara, the heroine, receives cryptic messages from a (seemingly) all-knowing spirit. He hangs in the half-world between life and death, with some arcane task not yet finished. She helps him complete what was not completed in life, and then ...That would be telling. The fact is, the spirit (Conti) is a friendly, chatty sort and offers fair pay for services rendered. He even arranges some interesting (and quite businesslike) travel. He also has some suggestions regarding her would-be boyfriend. As it turns out, the suggestions aren't needed. Something larger than Conti is also involving itself with Sara, and is quite the opposite of the ominous, evil force that Sara might have feared.This story may be Bantock's finest. It includes all of the themes that seem to fascinate Bantock: the alternatives to life and death, exchange between the human and the supernatural, and the growth of intimacy as a force in itself. Also, the story is wholly contained in one volume. I like that: I can see how the plot plays out without waiting a year or two for the next chapter. Some people might feel that closure impairs the sense of mystery. That's a matter of personal taste, though, so I can neither agree nor disagree.Sad to say, the "Wife" includes less of Bantock's incredible artwork than any other book I've seen. His layered, complex story almost makes up for lack of his layered, complex art, but not quite.Bantock fans: this a must-have. Bantock newcomers: you'll find more of his signature art in any of the other books published to date.

A Reveiw For Nick Bantock's The Venetian's Wife

The Venetian's Wife is a book that takes the mind on an unforgetable adventure.It dishes out the unbelievable in reality.Nick Bantock's style of writing mixed with his transaction of words,which flow together beautifully,paint a vivid picture in the mind.I love the way you can read the personal letters meant someone else and not feel any guilt.I also enjoyed learning about the Hindu culture while reading this book.I think that Nick Bantock has an extroidanary talent that can make you look at the world from a different vantage point.It mixes up a romantic love story with a reality-check situation that really challenges and urges your thinking of mind to go further than the average mind.

Beautiful, Engaging, A feast for the mind and the senses.

The Venetian's Wife is the perfect companion to the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy. The imagery is inescapable, as intended, and transports you to a realm where identification and reality are illusions. It's a beautiful tale that rings too true.

Beautiful Book

I thought this book was beautiful as well as thrilling. I liked the indian sculpture theory, and felt Bantock had a good point of view of the main character herself. I felt the character's life was very realistic and interesting. I liked the way he put the story of the explorer and the beautiful art panels and collages of indian sculptures (I noticed a mistake in the artwork, yet it really doesn't matter) You will find this tale delightful and spooky!