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The Silent Gondoliers
Los gondoleros silenciosos es el resultado de la investigación de Morgenstern sobre por qué los gondoleros de Venecia, que eran los mejores cantantes del mundo, un día, de repente, empezaron a cantar tan horriblemente que desde entonces los clientes les piden que remen en silencio. La respuesta a ese enigma está en la historia de Luigi, un joven de sonrisa bonachona que toda su vida soñó con ser gondolero. Goldman, a través de su narrador ficticio, nos lleva a la taberna secreta de los gondoleros, a la Iglesia de las almas de los que murieron por el Mar y a otros muchos lugares mágicos, dibujando una Venecia a medio camino entre la realidad y la fantasía en la que Luigi, a pesar de todas las frustraciones, sinsabores y derrotas, jamás renunciará a su sueño.
La edición de Ático de los Libros incluye las ilustraciones que el pintor Paul Giovanopoulos realizó para la edición original.
La edición de Ático de los Libros incluye las ilustraciones que el pintor Paul Giovanopoulos realizó para la edición original.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
16 people are currently reading
1917 people want to read
About the author
William Goldman
88 books2,662 followersGoldman grew up in a Jewish family in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, and obtained a BA degree at Oberlin College in 1952 and an MA degree at Columbia University in 1956.His brother was the late James Goldman, author and playwright.
William Goldman had published five novels and had three plays produced on Broadway before he began to write screenplays. Several of his novels he later used as the foundation for his screenplays.
In the 1980s he wrote a series of memoirs looking at his professional life on Broadway and in Hollywood (in one of these he famously remarked that "Nobody knows anything"). He then returned to writing novels. He then adapted his novel The Princess Bride to the screen, which marked his re-entry into screenwriting.
Goldman won two Academy Awards: an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for All the President's Men. He also won two Edgar Awards, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Best Motion Picture Screenplay: for Harper in 1967, and for Magic (adapted from his own 1976 novel) in 1979.
Goldman died in New York City on November 16, 2018, due to complications from colon cancer and pneumonia. He was eighty-seven years old.
William Goldman had published five novels and had three plays produced on Broadway before he began to write screenplays. Several of his novels he later used as the foundation for his screenplays.
In the 1980s he wrote a series of memoirs looking at his professional life on Broadway and in Hollywood (in one of these he famously remarked that "Nobody knows anything"). He then returned to writing novels. He then adapted his novel The Princess Bride to the screen, which marked his re-entry into screenwriting.
Goldman won two Academy Awards: an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay for All the President's Men. He also won two Edgar Awards, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Best Motion Picture Screenplay: for Harper in 1967, and for Magic (adapted from his own 1976 novel) in 1979.
Goldman died in New York City on November 16, 2018, due to complications from colon cancer and pneumonia. He was eighty-seven years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
October 25, 2019
This is the short and magical fable of Luigi, who is the greatest of all the gondoliers but, sadly, not the most accomplished of singers. It is told through the voice of S. Morgenstern who is perhaps the most talented of all modern fable-spinners, himself quite fictional. Accompanied by the illustrations of Paul Giovanopoulos, who perfectly interprets the world of the gondoliers in pen and ink drawings it is a gem of a book. And if you think there are too many superlatives in this review, it's because you haven't read the book.
July 18, 2022
In need of beauty, magic and heart, I decided to re-read The Silent Gondoliers. I have lost track of how many times I’ve read this gem of a novella. I often return to it when I find the need for such aching beauty that I want to cry, my heart hurts, and I can’t stop smiling.
Luigi is the most gifted gondolier to ever grace the canals of Venice. He completes the final exam of Gondolier School on his first day. He’s that much of a natural. But Luigi has a secret. While every gondolier is also an amazing singer - the best of the best throughout the world - Luigi cannot sing. Or I should say, he can sing but he shouldn’t. After his first three fares end with fish being thrown at him, the other gondoliers realize that nothing can be done about Luigi’s tone deaf singing. Luigi is made a gondolier in name only, resorting to work as the dishwasher in the gondolier tavern. He has disgraced his family (who were never great gondoliers); lost the supposed love of his life (who only wanted to be married to a great gondolier); and can feel his dream of singing his lungs, his heart and his soul out on the Grand Canal slipping away. What can Luigi do to find a way to fulfill his dream? And so begins his quest to become the best singing gondolier the world has ever known. His story contrasts the story’s title. If the gondoliers no longer sing, what exactly transpired? “…knowing what I know, I don’t imagine that their silence is a terrible thing at all. How can the removal of beauty from a world so lacking in beauty be anything but tragic? … And can the loss of beauty be anything but bad?”
William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride, creates a beautiful and offbeat tale. At first glance it may seem like a humorous story, but there’s a lot of heart here. Goldman has a great sense of humor, often interjecting his story with little side notes or bits of stories that seem like tangents but actually bring more clarity to Luigi’s story. Sometimes it’s done for humor, sometimes for foreshadowing, sometimes for drama. No matter his reasons, it works and makes me smile every time. He also has such a talent for expressing a human emotion that you can feel it to your core. And he hides those moments of breathtaking and illuminating truth between the funny quips and tragic story.
Luigi is all heart. Everyone loves him, which is why his lot in life feels like such a terrible shame. It’s unfair that the best gondolier can’t do what he’s clearly born to do. It’s awful to watch him lose sight of his dream and yet keep trying - only to have his hopes dashed time and time again. “There are many bad things about the human race. But there are many good things too. And one of the best is this - dreams, great dreams, die hard…” That’s what makes this story so beautiful and tragic and heartfelt. It’s about dreams - the kind we can’t ignore, the kind that we must fulfill or we want to die, the kind that others want to help us fulfill. “Because when someone special happens, he rubs off on everybody…”
I love this book with all of my being - lungs, heart and soul. I wish others could see its magic the way I do. I wish they could fall in love with Luigi. I wish they could laugh at the goofiness and sigh at the breathtaking truths.
Luigi is the most gifted gondolier to ever grace the canals of Venice. He completes the final exam of Gondolier School on his first day. He’s that much of a natural. But Luigi has a secret. While every gondolier is also an amazing singer - the best of the best throughout the world - Luigi cannot sing. Or I should say, he can sing but he shouldn’t. After his first three fares end with fish being thrown at him, the other gondoliers realize that nothing can be done about Luigi’s tone deaf singing. Luigi is made a gondolier in name only, resorting to work as the dishwasher in the gondolier tavern. He has disgraced his family (who were never great gondoliers); lost the supposed love of his life (who only wanted to be married to a great gondolier); and can feel his dream of singing his lungs, his heart and his soul out on the Grand Canal slipping away. What can Luigi do to find a way to fulfill his dream? And so begins his quest to become the best singing gondolier the world has ever known. His story contrasts the story’s title. If the gondoliers no longer sing, what exactly transpired? “…knowing what I know, I don’t imagine that their silence is a terrible thing at all. How can the removal of beauty from a world so lacking in beauty be anything but tragic? … And can the loss of beauty be anything but bad?”
William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride, creates a beautiful and offbeat tale. At first glance it may seem like a humorous story, but there’s a lot of heart here. Goldman has a great sense of humor, often interjecting his story with little side notes or bits of stories that seem like tangents but actually bring more clarity to Luigi’s story. Sometimes it’s done for humor, sometimes for foreshadowing, sometimes for drama. No matter his reasons, it works and makes me smile every time. He also has such a talent for expressing a human emotion that you can feel it to your core. And he hides those moments of breathtaking and illuminating truth between the funny quips and tragic story.
Luigi is all heart. Everyone loves him, which is why his lot in life feels like such a terrible shame. It’s unfair that the best gondolier can’t do what he’s clearly born to do. It’s awful to watch him lose sight of his dream and yet keep trying - only to have his hopes dashed time and time again. “There are many bad things about the human race. But there are many good things too. And one of the best is this - dreams, great dreams, die hard…” That’s what makes this story so beautiful and tragic and heartfelt. It’s about dreams - the kind we can’t ignore, the kind that we must fulfill or we want to die, the kind that others want to help us fulfill. “Because when someone special happens, he rubs off on everybody…”
I love this book with all of my being - lungs, heart and soul. I wish others could see its magic the way I do. I wish they could fall in love with Luigi. I wish they could laugh at the goofiness and sigh at the breathtaking truths.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2023
The Silent Gondoliers is a quick read about the gondoliers of Venice and why they no longer sing to their passengers. Our main character, Luigi is an extremely likable character. This illustrated tale by the author of The Princess Bride has both heart and humor, and I highly recommend for a fun one sitting read!
August 29, 2017
THE SILENT GONDOLIERS is a small book written by William Goldman (a.k.a. S. Morgenstern;-) the author of THE PRINCESS BRIDE. If that facts alone doesn't make you want to run out and get it, I can assure you, it is a wonderful read!
I won't give away much of the plot, but needless to say, it is about gondoliers, and if you have ever been to Venice, you know that this setting is almost as magical as Florin and Guilder.
Goldman peppers this book with touching wit and eloquent humor, and I think it would be enjoyable to most any reader.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
I won't give away much of the plot, but needless to say, it is about gondoliers, and if you have ever been to Venice, you know that this setting is almost as magical as Florin and Guilder.
Goldman peppers this book with touching wit and eloquent humor, and I think it would be enjoyable to most any reader.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 17, 2018
a charming short story replete with william goldman's signature amiable humor!!
July 15, 2025
This is my first time reading this book, but it feels like discovering something I’ve always loved. Goldman is SUCH a delightful storyteller…what a treat! Would make a great read-aloud.
February 3, 2009
There is not a single thing about this book (except perhaps its shortness) that I didn't absolutely love. The Princess Bride is easily my favorite book of all time so I've always wanted to get my hands on this one. A quick, easy read, it's a beautiful fable. More important, however, is Goldman's excellent prose. He plays with language in such an enthralling way. Check this one out!
November 4, 2024
Many people are familiar with Goldman's great work, The Princess Bride, although I'm sure they are more likely to have seen Rob Reiner's excellent translation of it to the movie screen. The quirky use of S. Morgenstern as the "real" author, the Florinese master from whose original the "classic tale of true love and high adventure" is translated, is repeated here with this little gem. Like its more famous predecessor, The Silent Gondoliers mixes history with legend, all presented as an almost scholarly investigation into the mystery of why the gondoliers of Venice no longer sing, as apparently they used to--very beautifully. The reason is the story of Luigi, a fantastically gifted gondolier who unfortunately is just as profoundly cursed with a truly terrible singing voice, one which gets him banned from doing what he most loves to do. I'm not going to give away the story--this is a short but sweet tale that shouldn't take more than an hour or two to glide through--but let it be said that the conclusion--the reason Venetian gondoliers no longer sing--is a wonderful acknowledgment of gratitude.
There are superb moments throughout, but here I will share one that approaches pure poetry. Midway through the story, Morgenstern pays attention to the places in Venice that are special to the gondoliers:
"Is it any wonder that the Gondolier's Tavern ranks as their third favorite building in all the world?
Second place, is, of course, their homes.
And in first?
Right next to the Gondolier's Tavern, touching it in fact, is the most ramshackle, nondescript tub of a structure you could imagine. But what you could not imagine is what it is.
A church.
A very special one, the most special one, at least to any gondolier. It is the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea.
And why is the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea so crucial? Well, you must understand this: gondoliers are like elephants--no one ever sees them die.
That's an exaggeration, of course. If a gondolier is taking a vacation, say, in Verona, and gets hit by a truck, obviously, he dies. Or if he's walking across the Piazza San Marco and succumbs to a fatal stroke--that's a public goodbye.
But accidents are the only exceptions. When a gondolier grows very old, too old to breathe much longer, or very sick, sick beyond the care of medical science, he mutters the words 'I must visit my church.'
And then his family carries him to his gondola. And they place him in it. And they hand him his oar. Of if he is too weak to grasp it, they strap the oar to his hand. And then they wave. And then, slowly, often painfully slowly, he moves his beloved oar and his boat gentles him away from his mooring place out toward the beckoning Adriatic Sea. This happens at night. Always. Always.
And when daylight comes, both boat and rider are gone. Never to be seen again. Not on this earth anyway. Where do gondoliers go? Nobody knows, any more than any man has ever seen the elephants' graveyard. This, of course, pertains only to their physical aspect. Everyone knows where the soul comes to permanent rest.
So you see now the reason for the ordering. The Gondolier's Tavern is third, because that is a place for pleasure.
And home is the place for love..
And the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea? Why, that is for ever..."
Outstanding. I get shivers reading that, even though I've probably read it a dozen times.
This particular edition enjoys some terrific illustrations from the very gifted Paul Giovanopoulous, who provides exactly the right not-quite-historical renderings that fit the story so well.
Although I love The Princess Bride, I do not love it as tenderly as I love this.
There are superb moments throughout, but here I will share one that approaches pure poetry. Midway through the story, Morgenstern pays attention to the places in Venice that are special to the gondoliers:
"Is it any wonder that the Gondolier's Tavern ranks as their third favorite building in all the world?
Second place, is, of course, their homes.
And in first?
Right next to the Gondolier's Tavern, touching it in fact, is the most ramshackle, nondescript tub of a structure you could imagine. But what you could not imagine is what it is.
A church.
A very special one, the most special one, at least to any gondolier. It is the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea.
And why is the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea so crucial? Well, you must understand this: gondoliers are like elephants--no one ever sees them die.
That's an exaggeration, of course. If a gondolier is taking a vacation, say, in Verona, and gets hit by a truck, obviously, he dies. Or if he's walking across the Piazza San Marco and succumbs to a fatal stroke--that's a public goodbye.
But accidents are the only exceptions. When a gondolier grows very old, too old to breathe much longer, or very sick, sick beyond the care of medical science, he mutters the words 'I must visit my church.'
And then his family carries him to his gondola. And they place him in it. And they hand him his oar. Of if he is too weak to grasp it, they strap the oar to his hand. And then they wave. And then, slowly, often painfully slowly, he moves his beloved oar and his boat gentles him away from his mooring place out toward the beckoning Adriatic Sea. This happens at night. Always. Always.
And when daylight comes, both boat and rider are gone. Never to be seen again. Not on this earth anyway. Where do gondoliers go? Nobody knows, any more than any man has ever seen the elephants' graveyard. This, of course, pertains only to their physical aspect. Everyone knows where the soul comes to permanent rest.
So you see now the reason for the ordering. The Gondolier's Tavern is third, because that is a place for pleasure.
And home is the place for love..
And the Church of Souls of Those Who Died For the Sea? Why, that is for ever..."
Outstanding. I get shivers reading that, even though I've probably read it a dozen times.
This particular edition enjoys some terrific illustrations from the very gifted Paul Giovanopoulous, who provides exactly the right not-quite-historical renderings that fit the story so well.
Although I love The Princess Bride, I do not love it as tenderly as I love this.
April 14, 2016
The silliness of The Princess Bride was so unexpected. I got William Goldman's first book as a read-aloud with my children (after looking for weeks for the original S. Morganstern version) and the interjections and complete silliness won us all over immediately. It was ridiculous but so much fun to read.
I had a different expectation this time. I saw Goldman's name on the cover and thought, "I bet that's a super silly, fun book." But since The Silent Gondoliers was just silliness without the great story, the ridiculous interjections and unnecessary explanations just made the book feel like it was dragging. And, considering it's only 128 pages and I read it in an evening- that's pretty sad.
Anyway- the book was okay but not great.
I had a different expectation this time. I saw Goldman's name on the cover and thought, "I bet that's a super silly, fun book." But since The Silent Gondoliers was just silliness without the great story, the ridiculous interjections and unnecessary explanations just made the book feel like it was dragging. And, considering it's only 128 pages and I read it in an evening- that's pretty sad.
Anyway- the book was okay but not great.
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May 7, 2022❤️ incantevole e delicato e poi ancora strappa-e-ricuci cuore.
February 26, 2025
Pure delight! I only wish I’d read this earlier in life so that it could have been a childhood favorite.
April 2, 2025
The Silent Gondoliers by William Goldman is the second story I've read from him after The Princess Bride. While this novella doesn't hit the highs and level of fun of that classic, I still love the tone and writing style. Honestly, they're probably what makes it work as well as it does for me. Plus, the pen and ink illustrations from Paul Giovanopoulos really suit it. Now, I feel like rewatching The Princess Bride.
May 11, 2022
I'm vexed with myself that it's taken me this long to read this book. Because it is an absolute gem. It's a tall tale told by a master satirist. It sparkles, it swoops, it shines in all the right places. I read the whole thing in one sitting, chuckling with glee over and over.
And then? The very last line brought tears to my eyes. Marvelous stuff.
And then? The very last line brought tears to my eyes. Marvelous stuff.
September 28, 2023
1.5/5
Second chance I've given to this author, so now it's time to call it quits. In terms of what didn't work, there's just something about Goldman's self-referential style that grates my nerves, and if 'facetiously pomo' ever became a genre, this would be first on my mental list. In terms of what did, this is a lovely little edition replete with masterful illustrations that make this slim paperback shine more than some of the hardcovers I've recently processed while on the clock, and it made me miss even more the days before machine-learning took over publication artistry and condemned us to splotchy repetitiveness in the name of a 'reprinting' or 'modern edition'. Still, when you start eyeing your watch every five pages during a read that barely crests 100 page, there is some serious incompatibility between writer and reader. As such, after a good twelve years of lagging, I send off the last of the Goldman from my shelves and leave the rest of his bibliography to a more appreciative audience. At the very least, I can see myself always enjoying the film adaptation of Goldman's most renowned work: I simply hope that I never have to suffer through a remake.
Second chance I've given to this author, so now it's time to call it quits. In terms of what didn't work, there's just something about Goldman's self-referential style that grates my nerves, and if 'facetiously pomo' ever became a genre, this would be first on my mental list. In terms of what did, this is a lovely little edition replete with masterful illustrations that make this slim paperback shine more than some of the hardcovers I've recently processed while on the clock, and it made me miss even more the days before machine-learning took over publication artistry and condemned us to splotchy repetitiveness in the name of a 'reprinting' or 'modern edition'. Still, when you start eyeing your watch every five pages during a read that barely crests 100 page, there is some serious incompatibility between writer and reader. As such, after a good twelve years of lagging, I send off the last of the Goldman from my shelves and leave the rest of his bibliography to a more appreciative audience. At the very least, I can see myself always enjoying the film adaptation of Goldman's most renowned work: I simply hope that I never have to suffer through a remake.
March 8, 2022
"How can the removal of beauty from a world so lacking in beauty be anything but tragic?"
"You must understand this: gondoliers are like elephants- no one ever sees them die".
As a huge Princess Bride fan, it was wonderful to dive into another hilariously narrated yet woundrously profound tale, even if it was somewhat short and simple in scope. I choose to believe that the Venetian legend of Luigi is as accurate as Mr S. Morgenson has so generously shared with us. The actual mystery behind the silence of the gondoliers will captivate and provoke great laughter, even if only for a few hours tops.
Why does no one talk about this?
"You must understand this: gondoliers are like elephants- no one ever sees them die".
As a huge Princess Bride fan, it was wonderful to dive into another hilariously narrated yet woundrously profound tale, even if it was somewhat short and simple in scope. I choose to believe that the Venetian legend of Luigi is as accurate as Mr S. Morgenson has so generously shared with us. The actual mystery behind the silence of the gondoliers will captivate and provoke great laughter, even if only for a few hours tops.
Why does no one talk about this?
November 9, 2009
This novella, by the author of
The Princess Bride
, tells the story of Luigi, one of the greatest gondoliers Venice has ever known, and of why the gondoliers -- once universally acclaimed as the best singers in the world -- stopped singing. It is a tale of the irrepressible nature of dreams, and the courage of a man who pursues his in spite of their seeming impossibility. Morgenstern/Goldman, of course, claims exhaustive research and unimpeachable sources for his tale -- a device echoed by Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events". The frequent use of superlatives, and satyrically elaborate descriptions of Luigi's years of training are reminiscent of the style Goldman employed in The Princess Bride. A quick, enjoyable read for ages 12 and up.
July 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It's written in the same tone as the princess bride, but much shorter and fewer characters. I disagree with people who would call it fluff. I think there's a great moral to keeping dreams, facing disappointment with a smile, and persevering.
December 17, 2022
Una fábula tan entrañable y mágica como ese truco que los adultos hacen a los niños de "te robo la nariz" (spoiler: no es la nariz del niño, es el pulgar del adulto).
June 23, 2025
Short, sweet, beautiful and magical.
I know The Princess Bride is considered Goldman’s… I mean, Morgenstern’s magnum opus.
But maybe it should be this one.
I know The Princess Bride is considered Goldman’s… I mean, Morgenstern’s magnum opus.
But maybe it should be this one.
November 15, 2019
Me ha gustado y las ilustraciones son 😍
December 21, 2016
First, to address the elephant in the room:
Mr. Elephant, sir (and one should always be formal and polite when addressing an elephant, as they are presumably much larger than oneself), I realize that this is from the same author of The Princess Bride, and is credited to the fictional author of the "original" of that tale, which Goldman then "abridged". You would, reasonably, assume a similarity in tone, then, if not content. Now, please don't be upset...
This is not wholly unlike the earlier book in tone, but is more in line with the film version. The novel Princess Bride was a little meaner, slightly snide, whereas the film was kinder, gentler, especially in regards to Buttercup. Both are brilliant, but it's clear where my preferences lie.
This is a gentle fable, with plenty of wit and whimsy, but is also quite wistful. There is a sadness at the core of this that is only touched on in the previous work. There are similarities, this being the work of the same author(s), but the differences are telling. This is fable, not fantasy. There is no swordplay. There is much less dialog, and none of it as memorable as that in Bride. Smaller scale, the conflict is primarily internal as opposed to external, etc.
If you know this going in, or are able to ignore the temptations of expectation, you are in for a lovely story. Luigi, our lead, is a wonderful character, this version of Venice is gorgeously sketched, and the support characters are quite engaging.
There are a few negative reviews for this book on GR, and it seems to me that expectations were to blame for many of them. If you can go in to this novella without The Princess Bride in mind, you will find a story that possibly equals it. Despite all my caveats, I truly believe it is that good.
Mr. Elephant, sir (and one should always be formal and polite when addressing an elephant, as they are presumably much larger than oneself), I realize that this is from the same author of The Princess Bride, and is credited to the fictional author of the "original" of that tale, which Goldman then "abridged". You would, reasonably, assume a similarity in tone, then, if not content. Now, please don't be upset...
This is not wholly unlike the earlier book in tone, but is more in line with the film version. The novel Princess Bride was a little meaner, slightly snide, whereas the film was kinder, gentler, especially in regards to Buttercup. Both are brilliant, but it's clear where my preferences lie.
This is a gentle fable, with plenty of wit and whimsy, but is also quite wistful. There is a sadness at the core of this that is only touched on in the previous work. There are similarities, this being the work of the same author(s), but the differences are telling. This is fable, not fantasy. There is no swordplay. There is much less dialog, and none of it as memorable as that in Bride. Smaller scale, the conflict is primarily internal as opposed to external, etc.
If you know this going in, or are able to ignore the temptations of expectation, you are in for a lovely story. Luigi, our lead, is a wonderful character, this version of Venice is gorgeously sketched, and the support characters are quite engaging.
There are a few negative reviews for this book on GR, and it seems to me that expectations were to blame for many of them. If you can go in to this novella without The Princess Bride in mind, you will find a story that possibly equals it. Despite all my caveats, I truly believe it is that good.
May 24, 2018
Mientras que en La princesa prometida William Goldman decía seleccionar las partes buenas de la prolija y compleja obra de Morgenstern, en Los gondoleros silenciosos asistimos de primera mano al relato resultante de las pesquisas del florinés, que, disgustado por el proceder de los gondoleros, decide desvelar el secreto de su silencio. Crítica completa: http://www.libros-prohibidos.com/will...
July 25, 2021
Questo libro è stato per me una lettura preparatoria: non avendo mai letto nulla di Goldman e avendo in programma di iniziare a breve il suo ben più famoso La principessa sposa (La storia fantastica), volevo fare la conoscenza di questo autore di cui ho sempre sentito parlare un gran bene. Sapevo che mi sarei trovata davanti una prosa brillante e uno stile ironico, ma non credevo così tanto! Goldman ti prende per mano e ti accompagna pian piano nella storia vera e propria, nel cuore del libro: perché i gondolieri di Venezia a un certo punto hanno smesso di cantare? Ci arriviamo pian piano, partendo dalla premessa che un tempo i gondolieri erano i più bravi cantanti del mondo, e dalla premessa della premessa (come si fa a stabilire chi è il cantante più bravo del mondo) e dalla premessa della premessa della premessa (ma che ne sa un autore americano dei gondolieri di Venezia?). Questo inizio a strati, quasi fosse un avvicinamento concentrico, non risulta né lento né noioso proprio grazie alla verve con cui Goldman narra i fatti e quando si arriva alla storia vera si ha talmente voglia di leggerla che metà del lavoro di cattura è già fatto.
Non credo che questa storia abbia pretese di verità (ma mi informerò, sicuro che mi informerò, vorrei andare in laguna già adesso!), ma resta ugualmente una storia credibile, che corre lungo quel filo teso tra vero e verosimile.
E ora non vedo l’ora di leggere La principessa sposa!
Non credo che questa storia abbia pretese di verità (ma mi informerò, sicuro che mi informerò, vorrei andare in laguna già adesso!), ma resta ugualmente una storia credibile, che corre lungo quel filo teso tra vero e verosimile.
E ora non vedo l’ora di leggere La principessa sposa!
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October 25, 2011"Hubo un tiempo en el que los gondoleros de Venecia deleitaban a sus clientes con las canciones más hermosas. Cantaban a pleno pulmón con una afinación y clase dignos de los más prestigiosos teatros de la ópera. Hubo un tiempo en el que competían entre ellos para demostrar quién lo hacía mejor, superándose a sí mismos día tras día. Pero ese tiempo quedó atrás. ¿Por qué? ¿Qué sucedió para que callaran y remaran en silencio? En este precioso relato lo descubrirás. William Goldman, reconocido autor americano que ya deleitó al público con aquella espléndida historia de aventuras y amor verdadero titulada La princesa prometida, regresa muchos años después con una novela inédita hasta el momento en nuestro idioma. Los gondoleros silenciosos fue publicada por primera vez en 1983, pero ninguna editorial española se había percatado de esta pequeña joya, hasta ahora. Veintisiete años después, Ático de libros rescata este relato a caballo entre lo fantástico y lo real en una cuidada edición que cuenta, además, con las ilustraciones originales de Paul Giovanopoulos. Goldman recupera a su alter ego S. Morgenstern para contar en primera persona y a través de sus pesquisas la razón por la que los gondoleros de Venecia dejaron de cantar sin razón aparente. Sigue leyendo ---> http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.com"
August 27, 2016
5.0 I enjoyed this book so much as I was reading it, but because of its modest length I kept telling myself that I just couldn't give it a super high rating. As I continued to read the little fable it's charming, delightful, and quirky humor continued to make me smile. There were so many things I enjoyed about the story and I could not deny giving it high marks just as Luigi couldn't deny his dream. I definitely think it takes a certain type of person to enjoy the beauty that is in this little gem. Having a silly sense of humor, appreciating fables, and enjoying magical realism definitely would make the read more enjoyable. I also really loved the setting of Venice where magical realism just seems to fit so well. The illustrations found throughout the book were also a wonderful addition. Today it seems as if authors feel the need to write massive books of hundreds of pages that lead into trilogies or prequels etc, but this is just a nice sweet story whose lack of length and yet strength of story show off the true skills of the author.
June 4, 2018
A whimsical little fable that transported me back to the truly magical canals of Venice. This book brought back so many cherished memories — taking a Venetian taxi (boat) from the airport to our apartment, the Piazza San Marco, eating and shopping along the Grand Canal, all of the breathtakingly beautiful churches, the Rialto, perusing the art museums, riding a train into the mainland of Italy, eating squid, getting lost several times a day, and of course, a gondola ride complete with a singing gondolier.
Venice is like no other place on Earth. It is only a few miles in diameter. It is a city literally built on water and shaped like a fish, but the passage on page 51 (pictured in my instagram review) of The Silent Gondoliers does a pretty nice job.
Venice is like no other place on Earth. It is only a few miles in diameter. It is a city literally built on water and shaped like a fish, but the passage on page 51 (pictured in my instagram review) of The Silent Gondoliers does a pretty nice job.
July 29, 2018
3 stars for story, 4 stars for voice.
It's interesting to be reading something written by "S. Morgenstern" without all of William Goldman's commentary. I liked how William Goldman is fictitiously writing through S. Morgenstern, who is himself telling the historical (?) or fictional (?) story of the gondoliers. Like The Princess Bride, the voice is really good, but as far as story goes, The Princess Bride surpasses it by miles.
I must add that I really enjoyed the drawings... they looked like the kind of drawings that you could stare at for hours and discover hidden symbols; I even turned the book upside-down a handful of times looking for new perspectives!
It's interesting to be reading something written by "S. Morgenstern" without all of William Goldman's commentary. I liked how William Goldman is fictitiously writing through S. Morgenstern, who is himself telling the historical (?) or fictional (?) story of the gondoliers. Like The Princess Bride, the voice is really good, but as far as story goes, The Princess Bride surpasses it by miles.
I must add that I really enjoyed the drawings... they looked like the kind of drawings that you could stare at for hours and discover hidden symbols; I even turned the book upside-down a handful of times looking for new perspectives!
September 25, 2022
Quella che dovrebbe essere una favola poetica mi è sembrata un’accozzaglia di idee strampalate e assurde, senza alcuna grazia e senza alcun senso. Senza, inoltre, nulla di ironico e divertente. Solo un americano poteva fantasticare così pazzamente su Venezia e sui gondolieri, considerandoli come esseri d’un’altra specie, animali bizzarri. Proprio non riesco a capire perché piace a tutti. Accompagnata da disegni mediocri.
February 3, 2023
I was expecting to laugh and find it charming—it certainly was—but it was also sweet and heartwarming. Most people probably won't be affected by this quirky fun story of why the gondoliers went silent, but man the end, after all the toil to get there just made me cry. I wasn't expecting it to be like this.
It's a very fun story and I recommend if you're in the mood for a fairytale!
It's a very fun story and I recommend if you're in the mood for a fairytale!
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