Arabian Wine [Hardcover]

Gregory Feeley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2005

A short novel of the tragically brief pre-history of steam engines and coffee in renaissance Venice.

"A fine, funny trans-historical adventure, so well-furnished and well-wrought it seems more true than the more boring truth. Read it with a double espresso." — John Crowley

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Feeley (The Oxygen Barons; Spirit of the Place) delivers an elegant, low-key historical fantasy about a young Venetian merchant's efforts to create a market for coffee in the early 17th century. Venice's fortunes, and those of its once powerful merchant families, have suffered as Dutch and Spanish traders gain control of markets and trade routes, bringing spices, silks and other exotic goods to Europeans hungry for new luxuries. But merchant Matteo Benveneto is determined to reinvigorate Venetian business by introducing Europe to fresh brewed "arabian wine," or caofa, as the Turks call it, "the elixir that brought fixity of purpose and clarity of mind." Eventually, Matteo's efforts draw the attention of Venice's Inquisition and the Council of Ten, providing some dramatic tension. Aficionados of quirky, understated speculative fiction will be rewarded. (Mar. 31)
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Review

"Arabian Wine will surely stand as one of the best novels of 2005." — Rich Horton -- Locus Magazine, March 2005

"an elegant, low-key historical fantasy . . . Aficionados of quirky, understated speculative fiction will be rewarded." -- Publishers Weekly 21 February 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 197 pages
• Publisher: Temporary Culture (March 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976466007
• ISBN-13: 978-0976466000
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,988,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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