The Silent Gondoliers: A Novel
The return of a beloved classic, from the bestselling author of The Princess Bride!
“This inventive, offbeat fable has a touch of magic about it.”—Los Angeles Times
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days—and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing.
No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the gooney smile.
Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica—and, of course, the one and only Luigi. His tale will captivate you as much as his song!
“Where The Princess Bride was lightheartedly brutal, this story is gently whimsical, well-complemented by Paul Giovanopoulos’s zany drawings.”—San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
“This inventive, offbeat fable has a touch of magic about it.”—Los Angeles Times
Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days—and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing.
No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers. No one, it seems, but S. Morgenstern. Now Morgenstern recounts the sad and noble story of the ambitions, frustrations, and eventual triumph of Luigi, the gondolier with the gooney smile.
Here, in this brilliantly illustrated exposition of the surprising facts behind this all-but-forgotten mystery, S. Morgenstern reveals the fascinating truths about John the Bastard, Laura Lorenzini, the centenarian Cristaldi the Pickle, Enrico Caruso, Porky XII, the Great Sorrento, the Queen of Corsica—and, of course, the one and only Luigi. His tale will captivate you as much as his song!
“Where The Princess Bride was lightheartedly brutal, this story is gently whimsical, well-complemented by Paul Giovanopoulos’s zany drawings.”—San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
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Community Reviews
This is a story about why the gondoliers of Venice no longer sing.
I really loved The Princess Bride and will admit the only reason I read this book was because it was by the same author. This story invokes similar humor. I especially enjoy the aside moments when the author stepped away from the story to tell us some of his thoughts. I felt those parts of the book were where most of the humor came through.
I would have like to have gotten to know some of the characters better. I realize this is the main problem with novellas they are short enough for you to get the story, but there is always more you wish had been said.
I really loved The Princess Bride and will admit the only reason I read this book was because it was by the same author. This story invokes similar humor. I especially enjoy the aside moments when the author stepped away from the story to tell us some of his thoughts. I felt those parts of the book were where most of the humor came through.
I would have like to have gotten to know some of the characters better. I realize this is the main problem with novellas they are short enough for you to get the story, but there is always more you wish had been said.
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