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City of Fortune

How Venice Won and Lost a Naval Empire
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( 4,188 ratings, 411 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
City of Fortune by Roger Crowley delves into the fascinating history of Venice, charting its rise as a commercial powerhouse during the Middle Ages. The book vividly captures the city's ambitious ventures and explorations that dominated the Mediterranean trade routes, highlighting its strategic manoeuvres, political intrigues, and naval prowess. Crowley’s narrative weaves a compelling tale of ambition, empire, and economic prowess that defined Venice's storied ascent.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by maritime history and the rise of empires, as it vividly brings to life the bustling, strategic world of Mediterranean trade and naval warfare. With a focus on Venice’s extraordinary ascension to power through cunning diplomacy and naval prowess, you'll be immersed in tales of adventure, political intrigue, and economic triumph over centuries.

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From the prize-winning author of Empires of the Sea comes an epic work of narrative maritime history.

In City of Fortune: How Venice Won and Lost a Naval Empire, from Roger Crowley - the prize-winning author of Empires of the Sea - comes an epic work of narrative maritime history.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A magisterial work of gripping history, City of Fortune tells the story of the Venetian ascent from lagoon dwellers to the greatest power in the Mediterranean—an epic five hundred year voyage that encompassed crusade and trade, plague, sea battles and colonial adventure.

In Venice, the path to empire unfolded in a series of extraordinary contests—the sacking of Constantinople in 1204, the fight to the finish with Genoa and a desperate defence against the Turks.

Under the lion banner of St Mark, she created an empire of ports and naval bases which funnelled the goods of the world through its wharfs. In the process, the city became the richest place on earth—a brilliant mosaic fashioned from what it bought, traded, borrowed and stole.

Based on firsthand accounts of trade and warfare, seafaring and piracy and the places where Venetians sailed and died, City of Fortune is narrative history at its finest.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

City of Fortune by Roger Crowley is acclaimed for its engaging narrative style that vividly brings historical events to life. Reviewers praise Crowley's dynamic storytelling, with the New York Times Book Review highlighting his ability to animate sea battles and sieges. The Wall Street Journal appreciates Crowley’s enthusiastic and insightful depiction of Venice’s history, while Kirkus Reviews describes it as an action-packed account of political and military history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571245956

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 August 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 345g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Roger Crowley read English at Cambridge before going to live in Istanbul. His first book, Constantinople was published in 2005 and was followed by Empires of the Sea, which was chosen as the Sunday Times History Book of the Year in 2008.

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