Венецианская маска

by Rafael Sabatini, Рафаэль Сабатини

Действие романа разворачивается в Италии, раздробленной на множество княжеств. Роман наполнен всеми атрибутами захватывающего приключенческого чтива - поединки, интриги, борьба за власть, и конечно же - романтическая любовь. Переплетение шпионского и исторического романов, опирающееся на исторические факты!
Виконт Марк-Антуан де Сольс, прибыл в Венецию с секретной миссией от британского премьер-министра, чтобы предотвратить захват Венецианской Республики, Наполеоном. Для того, чтобы выполнить свою задачу, он должен сыграть опасную роль двойного агента, и в то же время, попытаться спасти свою бывшую невесту и не дать принести её в жертву на алтарь международной политики.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Fiction, Classics, Historical, Swashbuckling, Italy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Rafael Sabatini (1875 - 1950) was an Italian/British writer of novels of romance and adventure. At a young age, Rafael was exposed to many languages. By the time he was seventeen, he was the master of five languages. He quickly added a sixth language - English - to his linguistic collection. After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. Sabatini was a prolific writer; he produced a new book approximately every year. He consciously chose to write in his adopted language, because, he said, "all the best stories are written in English. " In all, he produced thirty one novels, eight short story collections, six nonfiction books, numerous uncollected short stories, and a play. He is best known for his world-wide bestsellers: The Sea Hawk (1915), Scaramouche (1921), Captain Blood (1922) and Bellarion the Fortunate (1926). Other famous works by Sabatini are The Lion's Skin (1911), The Strolling Saint (1913) and The Snare (1917).

Reviews

[Yune · Rating 3 out of 5]

A predictable but enjoyable romp that happens to appeal to me: a displaced noble as a double-agent (pretending to be a triple-agent) in Venice, working to rouse the government there against the rampages of Napoleon. But here too, he has a secret motive -- the beautiful Isotta, whom he promised to come for before he left for Revolutionary France.

There was less swordplay than I remembered, but there is a duel, and midnight besettings by ruffians; murder. Switched identities! Unrequited love! Meeting one's widow for the first time! A coerced betrothal! High-stakes gambling!

If you're not feeling exclamatory about these things, steer clear.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a seventeenth century spy novel that hooks the reader from the first two or three pages. It is reminiscent of the seventeenth century spy novels of Dennis Wheatley, starting with 'The Launching of Roger Brook', although that author is better known for his magic books, 'To the Devil a Daughter' and so on. He wrote a few books about Roger Brook, and I enjoyed them.
Sabatini is such a clever writer, he draws the reader in, and depicts the characters so well, that the book is difficult to put down, or impossible, in my case. I had to finish it. Amazing.

[Jomana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Amazing! Sabatini at his best! Of all his novels, this has been my favourite so far!

Similar in style to The Marquis of Carabas, this exciting novel has astonished me. Set in the Republic of Venice, 1796, Venetian Masque explores the intrigues and military successes of Napoleon Bonaparte, the plots formed by the anti-French Venetians and the beautiful scenery of Venice. Meanwhile, the supposed English man, Mr Melville, has adventures and romances of his own.

Overall, a five star novel of history, swashbuckling adventure and intrigue!

[Peter Sidell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel about Napoleon’s capture of the city-state that was Venice

A novel about Napoleon’s capture of the city-state that was Venice .
An Englishman travels to Venice in the hope he may help it protect itself from Napoleon. He also comes courting the daughter of a count. He gets involved in a case of mistaken identity. An exciting romp through an event we know only partially as Americans.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spy thriller set in 1790’s Venice?? Sign me the hell up. In typical Sabatini style, archaic language and romance abound, as do pulse-pounding moments of tension, twists, sword fights and more!

This is the fifth adventure novel I’ve read by Sabatini, and though the underlying formula has remained consistent, I’m impressed at just how well the author weaves his his characters and narrative into the historical backdrop.

Well worth the read for any fans of the classical adventure story

[Dianne Durante · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love many of Sabatini's novels, but this one lost my interest fairly early on.

[Michael Gibb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding but intricate.

Another Sabatini that is hard to put down. But this one, while historically educational, is difficult to follow. It is a treasure trove of vocabulary.

[Miriam Smirnov · Rating 5 out of 5]

such fun!

[Neeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. I’ll never tire of the works of Rafael Sabatini. This is about a double agent in Venice during the French Revolution. Worth the read for Sabatini or Dumas fans.

[SB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Nena · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I love this author! So well written story and full of danger and romance. It’s a bit wordy; however, that is normal style of writing for the time it was written.

[Sheri South · Rating 5 out of 5]

VENETIAN MASQUE is one of Sabatini's lesser-known works, certainly less renowned than SCARAMOUCHE or CAPTAIN BLOOD. It's one of my favorites, though. Like SCARAMOUCHE, it features a worthy young hero--in this case, the half-French, half-English Marc-Antoine Villiers de Melleville--thrust by circumstances and the French Revolution into assuming a false identity for his own safety.

When his family's longtime steward, Camille Lebel, buys the Mellevilles' confiscated estate for a fraction of its worth, Marc-Antoine departs England for war-torn France to reclaim his heritage and reward the faithful Lebel. To Marc-Antoine's dismay, Lebel denounces him before the revolutionary tribunal of which he is now the president, and sentences him to the guillotine. Marc-Antoine manages to escape and returns to England, where his inside knowledge of French affairs soon bring him to the attention of the British government. Soon Marc-Antoine is on his way to Venice for purposes of both business and pleasure: he will serve as an unofficial envoy for Pitt, while staking his claim to the hand of the beautiful Isotte Pizzamano, with whom he has, although not a formal betrothal, certainly a mutual understanding. Alas, before he reaches Venice, whom should Marc-Antoine run into but the traitrous Lebel, also on his way to Venice as a representative of his own government? For Marc-Antoine, there is only one course of action: he kills Lebel and assumes his identity, then continues on to Venice to juggle the roles of spy and counter-spy. And, of course, of lover, as he discovers Isotte has been forced into an unwanted betrothal . . .

From there, it is a roller-coaster ride of adventure, espionage, romance, and--of course!--swordplay! It also taught me a great deal I didn't know about Napoleon's conquest of Venice.

[Keti · Rating 2 out of 5]

ძალიან დამღლელი აღმოჩნდა. რამდენი ხანია დავიწყე და შუა კითხვისას ცეცხლი დავკარგე. სკარამუში ბევრად უკეთესია,უფრო ცოცხალი და ჩამთრევია. უფრო განსხვავებულიც კი..
არა, ცხადია, ჯაშუშური რომანები კარგია, საინტერესოა ორმაგი ჯაშუშების თავგადასავლებითა და ხიფათით სავსე ცხოვრება, გრძნობების დაპირისპირება მოვალეობებთან, გადამწყვეტი წუთები, როცა სასწორზე სიცოცხლის გარდა ქვეყნის ბედიც რომ იწონება, მაგრამ აქ რაღაც დამემართა. შეიძლება ეს უფრო სუსტი რომანია ავტორის, ვიდრე მაგალითად იგივე "სკარამუში" ან "ზღვის ქორი".. ან თუნდაც "კაპიტანი ბლადი"...
"ვენეციის ნიღაბს" აუცილებლად დავამთავრებ, მაგრამ როდის? ეგ არ ვიცი...

[Donna Montgomery]

The plot has a lot of great twists, and every time I thought I saw a way out for Marc he wound up in the middle of some fresh disaster. He's constantly forced to justify himself to both sides of the conflict, making compromises for the sake of his larger goals. He also feels like a more multi-faceted hero than some of Sabatini's other leads, partly because his sympathies don't always line up with his loyalties.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Sabatini. Plenty of action and a good twist at the end, to make everything work out. Sometimes you wonder how things can possibly get worse for the hero, but they do. Happily, things do work out.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most enjoyable Sabatini book to date. I have read several others and found them enjoyable but the twists and turns in this one kept me turning the pages. I was familiar with period of history in relation to Venice, so the historical was interesting as was the actual story.