The city of Venice through the eyes of nineteenth century visitors.

For this portrait of Venice in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Lord Norwich has abandoned the historical approach, preferring to look at the city through the eyes of the most distinguished of its foreign visitors or residents. Beginning with Napoleon - with, perhaps, the most mysterious of all his mistresses - we continue with Byron, who cut his usual swathe among the feminine population while embarking on the last great affair of his life. Ruskin, Browning, Wagner and Henry James are among the others who for a longer or shorter time made the city their own, together with the two great Anglo-American painters James McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent. The survey ends with the insufferable "Baron Corvo", who poisoned the life of the British colony in Venice in the years immediately before the First World War.

John Julius Norwich has long been the foremost authority on Venice and in Paradise of Cities he confirms his reputation as an unparalleled historical storyteller. His book will delight and fascinate all lovers of this remarkable city.

Venice has captured the hearts of millions the world over and some of our most celebrated artists and writers have been ensnared by this most unique of cities. Here, John Julius Norwich reveals the wonder of Venice during the nineteenth century through the lives and experiences of some of her most distinguished visitors. Beginning with Napoleon - with, perhaps, the most mysterious of all his mistresses - we continue with Byron, who cut his usual swathe among the feminine population while embarking on the last great affair of his life. Ruskin, Browning, Wagner and Henry James are among the others who for a longer or shorter time made the city their own, together with the two great Anglo-American painters, James McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent.

John Julius Norwich has long been the foremost authority on Venice, and his book confirms his reputation as an unparalleled historical storyteller. Rich in detail about the fabulous city itself and packed with often hilarious and always enlightening anecdotes, this is the perfect companion for anyone who has also fallen in love with this Paradise of Cities.

Praise for Paradise of Cities:

'Written with unflagging zest, fluency and love. Splendid' Literary Review

'Shows a sharp eye for the curious and entertaining. Full of relishable moments.' Sunday Times

'Supremely readable and often witty' Michael Dibdin, Guardian

'A charming traveller's companion' Independent on Sunday

'An endearing, enjoyable anthology of Venetian anecdotes and incidents' Margaret Drabble, New Statesman

John Julius Norwich was born in 1929. He was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto, Eton, the University of Strasbourg and at New College, Oxford. In 1952 he joined the Foreign Service, and resigned in 1964 in order to write. Many of his books are published in Penguin. In addition he has written and presented some thirty historical documentaries, and is a regular lecturer on Venice and other subjects. For nearly thirty years Lord Norwich was chairman of the 'Venice in Peril Fund'. He is now chairman of the 'World Monuments Fund of Britain', and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

For further information please contact Anna Ridley, Penguin Publicity, 020 7010 3251, anna.ridley@penguin.co.uk