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Venice for Pleasure
Now in its seventh revised edition, Venice for Pleasure has become a minor classic, remaining in print for more than 30 years. “Its simple object,” in the author’s own words, “is to guide the reader to places he might otherwise miss and, having reached them, to tell him what he might wish to know and then leave him, preferably at a café..." Extensive color illustrations, including classic paintings and historical maps accompany the text to reveal a Venice of 50, 100, and 500 years ago.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 10, 2013
JG Links’ guide to the wonders of Venice, Venice for Pleasure, was first published around the time when England were winning the World Cup and Harold Wilson was puffing on his pipe as our prime minister.
That it is still in print today should tell you something; that this is the book to have with you when first you visit that magical city.
It has of course, been updated since it first saw the light of day in 1966. You can rely upon its seventh edition to make sense of the current Vaporetto routes, and the restaurants and cafes it notes are (mostly) still there. Since JG Links is sadly no longer with us to add to his urbane and witty volume, this may not be true for ever.
But to go to Venice for the first time without this important book would be a shame. It is not only the best guide to Venice, it is possibly the best guide to any city, written with the casual visitor in mind (not for the art historian or the history scholar), and written solely with pleasure in view.
Why is it so good? I think because it puts no pressure on you whatever. Most guides have a sort of breathless, open-mouthed and unquestioning reverence for the places they discuss, Venice for Pleasure has achieved its goal if it leaves you sitting in the sunshine on the banks of a canal, sipping a coffee.
Other Venice guides deliver you to the door of the Frari or the Accademia with injunctions not to miss a whole list of things. Only Venice for Pleasure will tell you (of the Accademia) not to panic, since the first nineteen rooms can be “done in half an hour by any traveller with sound limbs”. Only JG Links will exclaim (once you have gazed on some gross and absurdly scaled monuments – as well as Bellini’s angels – and have reached the open air once more), “We have done the Frari.”
The book itself consists of four walking routes around Venice. These take in everything you will want to see (including many not so much visited treasures), but they will generally keep you moving past the crowds of St Marks, and most other crowds too, for Venice beyond the obvious still stubbornly resists being explored.
Wandering around Venice, one often encounters those with other guide books. You can tell these people by the glazed expression, the fixed rictus of having ‘enjoyed’ so many Titians or Donatellos, the footsore limp of the enthusiast who has taken on one church too many. Death, in Venice, often approaches as a result of unquestioning admiration, and it is only the city itself that saves you.
As Venice for Pleasure points out, the big picture is really what is so special about the place. Having been established by luck, having prospered by intrigue and plunder, having survived against all odds, Venice is a miracle of history. It is the place itself (and not the glittering details within) which contains the magic.
That it is still in print today should tell you something; that this is the book to have with you when first you visit that magical city.
It has of course, been updated since it first saw the light of day in 1966. You can rely upon its seventh edition to make sense of the current Vaporetto routes, and the restaurants and cafes it notes are (mostly) still there. Since JG Links is sadly no longer with us to add to his urbane and witty volume, this may not be true for ever.
But to go to Venice for the first time without this important book would be a shame. It is not only the best guide to Venice, it is possibly the best guide to any city, written with the casual visitor in mind (not for the art historian or the history scholar), and written solely with pleasure in view.
Why is it so good? I think because it puts no pressure on you whatever. Most guides have a sort of breathless, open-mouthed and unquestioning reverence for the places they discuss, Venice for Pleasure has achieved its goal if it leaves you sitting in the sunshine on the banks of a canal, sipping a coffee.
Other Venice guides deliver you to the door of the Frari or the Accademia with injunctions not to miss a whole list of things. Only Venice for Pleasure will tell you (of the Accademia) not to panic, since the first nineteen rooms can be “done in half an hour by any traveller with sound limbs”. Only JG Links will exclaim (once you have gazed on some gross and absurdly scaled monuments – as well as Bellini’s angels – and have reached the open air once more), “We have done the Frari.”
The book itself consists of four walking routes around Venice. These take in everything you will want to see (including many not so much visited treasures), but they will generally keep you moving past the crowds of St Marks, and most other crowds too, for Venice beyond the obvious still stubbornly resists being explored.
Wandering around Venice, one often encounters those with other guide books. You can tell these people by the glazed expression, the fixed rictus of having ‘enjoyed’ so many Titians or Donatellos, the footsore limp of the enthusiast who has taken on one church too many. Death, in Venice, often approaches as a result of unquestioning admiration, and it is only the city itself that saves you.
As Venice for Pleasure points out, the big picture is really what is so special about the place. Having been established by luck, having prospered by intrigue and plunder, having survived against all odds, Venice is a miracle of history. It is the place itself (and not the glittering details within) which contains the magic.
October 22, 2012
Links speaks directly to the reader with what Jan Morris calls "the kind of urbanity that is masked in simplicity." He makes no great claims for this travel guide, saying "Its simple object is to guide the reader to places he might otherwise miss and, having reached them, to tell him what he might wish to know and then leave him there to admire, to enjoy or, perhaps, to be disappointed." He is brisk about the Accademia ("The first nineteen rooms of the Accademia can be done in half an hour by any traveler with sound limbs and a willingness to postpone the delights of such heavyweights as Titan, Tintoretto and Veronese..."), though he himself was a noted Canaletto scholar. His description of the Piazza was our accompaniment as we sat, per his suggestion, with a Campari spritz one late afternoon and surveyed the delectations of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. It was a delight to have him with us.
May 31, 2017
Not worth the reading. Unfortunately it is not up to other publications if one wants to know everything about Venice. There are better sources out there.
October 15, 2017
Old - new editions bringing it up to date, but still the best guid to Venice.
November 21, 2022
This is such a good guide full of entertaining asides, tips and tours ( by ferry or walking). It’s a really personable and enjoyable book and very helpful.
February 8, 2009
I read it over Christmas, a month after coming back from Venice, where it was snowing. This book is fantastic. Witty, erudite, not hawking anything at you, not looking at you askance to work out whether you're a 'tourist' or a 'traveller' (bleugh, i hate em, go and do your Year in Provence over somebody else please) - JG Links is a gentleman. He was also the Queen's furrier and came to be the expert on Canaletto - this man had a taste for the finer things. One of those finer things is described, merely as an aside, in his usual artless way, when he idly mentions drinking Campari on the Zattere in the morning and looking across to Giudecca. Yes, please.
September 29, 2016
This was less of a travel guide and more of an ode to the great city. I learned about the history of places places, which enriched my experience, but would have gotten hopelessly lost if relying on this text to plan / navigate Venice. In that light, it was the perfect text - meandering prose to accompany the experience of aimless wandering wonderment.
I hugely enjoyed the way he used the first person plural throughout. As "we" explored the city, J.G. Links inserted his admiration of Venice, and his unique sense of humor.
I hugely enjoyed the way he used the first person plural throughout. As "we" explored the city, J.G. Links inserted his admiration of Venice, and his unique sense of humor.
July 8, 2024
As glorious as Venice itself. I agree with many reviewers who say that this is not only the best book about Venice but also the best travel guide ever written. I can't wait to go back there and do these walks, exploring it all over again.
September 25, 2008
an off the beaten path sort of guide, filled with anecdotes, character sketches, and historic photos.
December 17, 2012
This is the travel guide I would like to have everywhere I travel. Very useful to enjoy your time in Venice, rather than spent useless time on tourists lures...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews