The Bookseller of Venice by Giovanni Montanaro, is a short and sweet important volume which I think every book-lover should read…but it’s not that easy to get hold of a physical copy.

Iona Man picked one up from Libraria Toletta (delighted to have found a book about books that I hadn’t seen before.)

While the eponymous bookseller contends with the universal challenges of keeping a small, eclectic bookshop going, disaster strikes on the 12th November 2019, when High Water (acqua alta) floods Venice and the bookshop shelves are submerged. What follows is a tale of community versus adversity, the shared love of books and joy amidst devastation.

In an age of mass tourism and one-click buying, this is a heartening tribute to Venice and to books.

At the end of the story, there is a comprehensive list of booksellers in Venice, so you can go and do a(n independent booklover’s) tour of the floating city by yourself….or go there to pick up a copy!

The Bookseller of Venice: Giovanni Montanaro. Translated by Edward Williams. Published by Feltrinelli.

Venice Personal Geographies bookart workshop runs from October 13- 17 2025