"Breezy, cheerful, evenhanded, Madden debunks myths about Venetian decadence, and brushes aside ugly whispers about greedy, unscrupulous merchants.  When a colorful character pops up (Marco Polo, Casanova), he makes the most of it in his brisk, no-nonsense prose." -- New York Times "This is a savory, tantalizing, but not-so-serene history of La Serenissima -- a tale of invasion, plunder, and ultimate elevation to one of the leading merchant cities in Europe.  .Madden makes use of thousands of Venetians' personal documents from the Middle Ages to present an authoritative history." -- Publishers Weekly   "Madden paints a vivid portrait of 'a city without land, an empire without borders.'  His engaging work enters a sparse historiography. and separates itself by offering a readable overview backed by solid research.

Readers will come away from Madden's Venice with a newfound respect for one of the great jewels of Western civilization. -- Booklist (Starred Review)   "Plenty of books focus on Venice the romantic ruin.  This one offers a welcome reminder of its historic role over a millennium in the development of a modern economic system and the maintenance of the global balance of power." -- Kirkus Reviews   "Madden presents a popular history as engaging as it is solid.  In graceful, sometimes elegant prose, he details the long life of one of Europe's most intriguing cities.  It is as enjoyable as it is astute." -- Library Journal   "As Thomas F. Madden relates in his excellent new book, the city was once far more than just a romantic tourist destination.

Madden's book is a lively and lucid survey of Venice's colorful history." -- The Seattle Times.