Presentation of 'Venezia atto finale / Venise n'est pas à Vendre' by Petra Reski

Presentation of Venezia atto finale / Venise n'est pas à Vendre
by Petra Reski

Tuesday 16 May, 6.30 p.m.

Author Petra Reski dialogues with translator Gabriella Zimmerman at Palazzo Vendramin Grimani.

Free event.
Booking required.

Venezia atto finale

Overrun by tourists, threatened by floods - and yet the most beautiful city in the world: Petra Reski, who has lived in the lagoon city since the 1990s and knows it like no other, recounts life in Venice in a way that is as evocative as it is ruthless. She once lost her heart to a Venetian - she has long since fallen in love with her hometown. But cruise ship tourism, property speculation and unscrupulous mayors are taking their toll on the city. Petra Reski still knows them, the old Venetians and the secrets of this city, and draws a melancholic picture of Venice, whose downfall must be prevented at all costs.

Readings of selected pieces will take place in Italian and French.

It is an incisive book, a 'counter-postcard of Venice'; it is also a subtle balance between a diary, which is a true declaration of love for Venice, and an uncompromising 'j'accuse', in which she spares no-one...

Gabriella Zimmermann

Participate

Petra Reski

Petra Reski was born in Germany and has lived in Venice since 1991. She holds degrees in French Literature, Political Science and Sociology. She started her career as a reporter for the weekly 'Stern'. She came to Italy in 1989 to write a report on the 'Spring' in Palermo, but decided to stay there to cover the Mafia.

She writes for many German media, including 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', 'Die Zeit', 'Geo' and has published novels and investigative books. In Germany, she was elected Best Journalist in the 'reporter' category and received the renowned Ricarda Huch literary prize. Her website is www.petrareski.com

Gabriella Zimmermann

Gabriella Zimmermann has lived and worked for more than 30 years in Venice, her favourite city.
She taught French as a foreign language for many years at Ca' Foscari University in Venice. She now devotes herself to her translation work, particularly of Donna Leon's novels, and to her research on the city of Venice. She has written a literary guide : Venise au fil des mots (Ed. Pimientos, 2006) ; an emotional history of La Serenissima : Venise au fil des temps and the history of the French Bookshop in Venice : Venise à livre ouvert (Ed. La Tour Verte)

Petra Reski, Venezia atto finale, Veder morire una città, Zolfo Editore, 2022

Petra Reski, Venise n’est pas à Vendre (traduction Gabriella Zimmermann), Éditions Arthaud, 2022

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Gabriella Zimmermann

Gabriella Zimmermann has lived and worked for more than 30 years in Venice, her favourite city.
She taught French as a foreign language for many years at Ca' Foscari University in Venice. She now devotes herself to her translation work, particularly of Donna Leon's novels, and to her research on the city of Venice. She has written a literary guide : Venise au fil des mots (Ed. Pimientos, 2006) ; an emotional history of La Serenissima : Venise au fil des temps and the history of the French Bookshop in Venice : Venise à livre ouvert (Ed. La Tour Verte)

Petra Reski, Venezia atto finale, Veder morire una città, Zolfo Editore, 2022

Petra Reski, Venise n’est pas à Vendre (traduction Gabriella Zimmermann), Éditions Arthaud, 2022