provveditore superintendent
rio (V) Venetian word for a canal
salizada (V) a broad street in Venice (one of the first to have been paved)
sandolo (V) flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, of simpler build than a gondola
sbirro officer of the law; often used derogatorily
scalco high-ranking official servant
scudo coin worth seven lire
sguazzeto (V) boiled pig trotters and veal
Sior/Siora (V) Venetian for Signor/Signora. (They did not generally distinguish between signorina and signora)
sottoportego (V) archway or passage under a building
tabarro cloak
zaffi (V) see sbirro; also often used derogatorily
zecchino the principal Venetian coin, worth twenty-two lire (origin of the word “sequin”)
About the Author
Gregory Dowling was born and educated in Bristol, and studied English at Christ Church, Oxford. A year teaching in Italy led to “just one more,” and for the last ten years Dowling has remained in Venice, where he teaches at the university. In 1983, he married Patrizia from Verona; they have one son. Gregory Dowling’s list of books include Double Take (SMP, 1984) and See Naples and Kill (SMP, 1988). You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
End Note
Glossary
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.
An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.
ASCENSION. Copyright © 2015 by Gregory Dowling. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.thomasdunnebooks.com
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First published in Great Britain by Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd
First U.S. Edition: September 2016
eISBN 9781250108531
First eBook edition: September 2016
Ascension Page 34
