Historical fiction set in Venice

Humanities West programs offer a kind of cross-disciplinary immersion in some particularly interesting historical setting.  Another way to add a dimension to that immersive experience is through historical fiction that shares a similar historical and cultural setting.  Although you may have to sift through some schlocky (and wildly inaccurate) works that are simply looking for an exotic background, good historical fiction is meticulously researched and goes to great lengths to recreate the atmosphere, the look-and-feel, and even the psychological mindset of its period.  A fictionalized plot, set against a backdrop that often includes real historical places, events and personalities, can bring a distant period to life in a way that few works of straight history are able to do.

It should come as no surprise that Venice, the focal point of our Oct. 22-23 program, has figured prominently in many works of historical fiction.  But where to start?  It turns out that there is an excellent web site called Historical Tapestry.  "We are a group of readers who love to read Historical Fiction set in all eras. Historical Tapestry is exclusively devoted to Historical Fiction."

In response to a request for information about works set in Venice, the folks at Historical Tapestry have compiled a list organized by historical period, with the bulk of the works set in the 15th and 16th centuries.  While I can't claim to have read all these books, based on a perusal of Amazon summaries and reviews, it looks like Elle Newmark's The Book of Unholy Mischief or Thomas Quinn's The Lion of St. Mark might be good places to start.  The Newmark book is also available in Kindle and Audiobook formats.

Feel free to add your own recommendations or critiques if you are familiar with these or any other works of historical fiction set in Venice.