AUTHOR INTERVIEW

The novel, The Angels of Venice, was inspired by a close encounter with a cruise ship, writes Nora Mcelhone

The Angels of Venice is the latest in Philip Gwynne Jones’ successful Nathan Sutherland novels based in the Italian city. This time, the amateur sleuth’s adventures have been inspired by real-life incidents, including a ferry crash and devastating floods, as the author explains:

“It almost crashed into our house!” he says, recalling a cruise ship crashing into the San Basilio ferry terminal. “Seriously, I could look out from our window and there it was, an enormous cruise ship almost in the spare bedroom!

“But the actual inspiration for The Angels of Venice was the devastating flood that hit Venice in November 2019,” he points out.

Philip, who grew up in Wales and lived and worked in Italy and Edinburgh before making the permanent move to Venice with his wife in 2012, recalls walking around the city in the aftermath of the 2019 floods; “seeing the devastation it had left behind: garbage piled up in the squares, boats that had literally been swept out of the lagoon and into the streets, vaporetto pontoons that had been wrenched from their moorings.”

“There was, I knew, a story to be told,” he explains. “I also knew that I would have to be so careful about how I told that story. I was worried that a novel based on these events might seem exploitative, and that was the last thing I wanted.

“In the end I decided that if I concentrated on some of the positive aspects of the aftermath – in particular, the reaction of the young people in the city – it would be a story that I could tell in good conscience. I hope I succeeded!”

The character of Nathan Sutherland is the fictional incumbent of the real-life position of British honorary

consul in Venice. Philip says that he chose this job, rather than a policeman, for example, because; “Firstly, the problem with writing a police procedural

in Venice is that you’ll inevitably be accused of seeking to copy the great Donna Leon.

“Secondly, and just as importantly, when I started to write The Venetian Game, I’d only been living in Venice for two years and didn’t think I could write convincingly as a Venetian.

“But if I made my protagonist British – a proverbial stranger in a strange land – well, that was something I had direct experience of! I’d also taught English to one of the consuls in the city, and so I’d learned quite a lot about what they actually do.”

Writing about Venice, Philip is following in the footsteps of some of our great writers: “Henry James, Thomas Mann, Daphne du Maurier – oh, and some bloke called William Shakespeare!” he laughs, well aware that he has set himself a high bar. “Moreover, people who read about Venice are absolutely passionate about the city. They’ll pick up on any mistakes you make, so I have to be very careful to get my facts absolutely right,” he says.

“But the city itself is such an inspiration for a writer. Even the street names are evocative – when I noticed the Street of the Assassins for the first time I knew that was where Nathan Sutherland was going to live.”

Philip has found his home and, for now, the perfect setting for his crime thrillers.

The next Nathan Sutherland novel is scheduled for publication next year.

The Angels of Venice by Philip Gwynne Jones, £16.99, Constable.

Crime author Philip Gwynne Jones.