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A large part of Howell's time in Venice was given up to a critical study of life in that city, and in his "Venetian Life," which appeared in 1866, he has given to the world the result of his observation and study. The book abounds in dainty pen pictures of the beauties of Venice ; as he tells us of the Grand canal, we can almost hear the dipping paddles of passing gondolas, and the barcarolle wafted on the evening breeze. It may seem almost sacrilege to lovers of the old legends, that he explains away the romanticism of the Doge's palace, and denominates the Bridge of Sighs a " pathetic swindle". The book's finish was such as to reveal the highly interesting literary individuality of the author.