A Venetian Affair

A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the 18th Century

By: Andrea di Robilant

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

Acclaimed author Andrea di Robilant sweeps listeners back to 18th-century Venice for a spellbinding tale of forbidden love. Originally serialized in The New Yorker, this dazzling story is based on actual family letters.

The letters describe a searing and illicit affair between the author’s ancestor, a great Venetian statesman, and a beautiful half-English girl. The couple pursued their passion with reckless abandon, offending nearly everyone, and even getting some help along the way from the infamous Casanova. In gambling dens, glitzy ballrooms, decadent salons, and private rooms, the lovers thrived on their secret trysts.

©2003 Andrea di Robilant (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

True love but impossible

My favorite love story. Performance is exceptional. Highly recommend to all. It's relatable even though it's set in the 1750's!!!

Unforgettable; Amazing

This is one of the best books I have ever listened to. The first time was from my local library before Audible existed. It is based on letters found in a Venetian attic in the 1700’s. The main male character was of Nobility and his beautiful love was not. They did everything to try to make it work, and at one time they came close, but to no avail. This book should totally be a classic!
Even Casanova appears in their lives. It makes me think today, hundreds of years later, what would it have hurt for these two, who had found what. I consider to be rare-mutual TRUE LOVE to have married. I highly recommend this book. The male hero is narrated by Jeff Woodman. He is my favorite reader. This book is like NO OTHER!

Oh! Bittersweet. I loved it.

We tend to live in the here and now not linked with those people who came before us. But memoirs and books like A Venetian Affair remind us that for millennia lovers have been falling love, parents have been raising children and societies, to some large degree, shape our existence. I'm so glad the end was not the end for Justinia and Andreas. Thanks to your father for compiling the history with so much determination and to you for bringing us a lovely story.