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Quotes: Henry James on Venice – 1

[Before St. Mark's and public hospital, Venice, Italy] (LOC)


The sentimental tourist sole quarrely with his Venice is that he has too many competitors there. He likes to be alone; to be original; to have (to himself, at least) the air of making discoveries. The Venice of to-day is a vast museum where the little wicket that admits you is perpetually turning and creaking, and you march through the institution with a herd of fellowgazers. There is nothing left to discover or describe and originality of attitude is completely impossible… But this is not the fault of Venice; it is the fault of the rest of the world.

Henry James, The Italian Hours.

The image is courtesy of The Library of Congress. See Flickr page for details.

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