Syracuse Sun

A book by Dennis Romano, a professor emeritus of history at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been recognized as one of The Economist's best books of 2024.

The Economist praised "Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City" (Oxford University Press, 2024) as “a sparkling account of Venice’s past and future” and noted it “will become the history of choice for readers who want to better understand the lagoon city.”

Romano's book provides an extensive overview of Venice's political, economic, cultural, ecological, military, and art history from its origins to today. Using archival materials, he covers Venetian history from the Ice Age emergence of the lagoon to modern tourism. The book also includes insights into Venetian commoners through diaries and last wills.

In a review published in April, The Economist stated, “The result is a triumph.” It added that this work represents “contemporary historical writing of the highest quality: clear, entertaining and yet academically rigorous.”

Romano has authored eight books and over 20 articles on medieval Italy and Venetian history. His research has been supported by grants from organizations such as the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Romano's academic focus includes medieval and Renaissance Italy as well as early modern Europe with an emphasis on Venice’s social and cultural history.

This article was written by Mikayla Melo.