spiritmech
March 8th 2008, 10:56 PM
I finished reading one of my favorite books of all time. It is a little known work called The Bravo. It is about an assassin (a "bravo") named Jacopo who works for the government of Venice. It is set during the declining years of Venice's power and wealth, a little after the alternate routes to India were found.
Every year there is a gondola race along the main canal through the center of Venice (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=venice,+italy&ll=45.436406,12.337475&spn=0.048061,0.164383&t=k&hl=en). Jacopo competes, as usual, as well as his old fisherman friend, Antonio. Usually Jacopo wins, but this year Antonio beats Jacopo. For winning, Antonio gets to speak to the most powerful person in Venice, and requests that his young grandson be returned to him from Venice's military escapades. Of course this offends the powerful in Venice, and he is killed. Jacopo witnesses the murder, and decides he will never work for the state of Venice ever again.
What happens next? I won't ruin it for you. But it's really good.
sm
Every year there is a gondola race along the main canal through the center of Venice (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=venice,+italy&ll=45.436406,12.337475&spn=0.048061,0.164383&t=k&hl=en). Jacopo competes, as usual, as well as his old fisherman friend, Antonio. Usually Jacopo wins, but this year Antonio beats Jacopo. For winning, Antonio gets to speak to the most powerful person in Venice, and requests that his young grandson be returned to him from Venice's military escapades. Of course this offends the powerful in Venice, and he is killed. Jacopo witnesses the murder, and decides he will never work for the state of Venice ever again.
What happens next? I won't ruin it for you. But it's really good.
sm