The Politics of Washing

Real Life in Venice

London : Robert Hale Limited, 2013.

Format: Book

Description: 206 pages ; 22 cm

The beautiful city of Venice has been a fantasy land for people from around the globe for centuries, but what is it like to live there? To move house by boat, to get a child with a broken leg to a hospital, or to set off for school one morning, only to find that the streets have become rivers and the playground is a lake full of sewage? When Polly Coles and her family left England for Venice, they discovered a city caught between modern and ancient life-- where the locals still go on an annual pilgrimage to give thanks for the end of the Black Death, where schools are housed in Renaissance palaces, and your new washing machine can only be delivered on foot. This is a city perilously under siege from tourism, but its people refuse to give it up-- indeed they love it with a passion. This book is a fascinating window into the world of ordinary Venetians and the strange and unique place they call home.

Contents: Getting away -- September. Living on water ; In the giant's castle ; The art of arguing ; The politics of washing ; Authentic -- October. Hospitality ; Unlearning IKEA ; Self-service ; Do not disturb ; The last laugh ; Steps ; Letizia and the professor -- November. High water 1 ; High water 2 ; San Martino went up to the attic ; Trailing clouds of glory ; Salute! -- December. Undercover tourist ; Growing up in history ; Technicals -- Thursday 15 December ; Iconic -- January. the old man and the sea ; Three, or, Is dead beautiful? ; Baba Yaga ; Giardino di Merda -- February. Village fete ; Dressing up ; The Venice effect ; Eating cake -- March. Bloodlines ; Commuters ; Kites -- April. Crabs ; Cassandra ; Hey, you! ; Real estate heaven -- May. Other lives ; The weather in Moldova ; Katerina's story ; the life of fish ; Sunday 25 May -- June. Home and away ; Beside the seaside, beside the sea ; Opus Dei -- July. Itinerant ; Pinhole camera -- August. Paying ; Together ; If you care.

Subjects:
Coles, Polly -- Homes and haunts -- Italy -- Venice.
Venice (Italy) -- Social conditions -- 21st century.
Venice (Italy) -- Social life and customs -- 21st century.

ISBN: 9780719808784