Meredith F. Small is a professor of anthropology at Cornell University and the author of Our Babies, Ourselves; What's Love Got to Do with It?; and Female Choices. She has written for Natural History Magazine, Discover, Scientific American, and is a commentator for National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She lives in Philadelphia.
Venice does not lack admirers, but this is an inventive addition. An anthropologist at Cornell, Small emphasizes the city's social structure as she describes how one small place had an outsized influence on the development of Western culture. Venice lovers already familiar with plaudits by other travelers and historians will enjoy this different perspective. -- Kirkus Review Small catalogs a dizzying array of Venetian innovations in this illuminating account. Small enlivens her research with personal anecdotes about her love for Venice, and moves fluidly from one topic to the next. The result is a delightful and informative cabinet of wonders. -- Publishers Weekly