Show venetian Vene flan life on returning from venice where he had been consul for four years william dean howells met a boston publisher with whom he frequently played shuffleboard or strolled the liners decks one day howells remarked that he was bringing over a manuscript on venetian life jokingly the publisher remarked that his firm would bring it out without a moments hesitation the manuscript was turned over to him it was published in 1868 1866 under the title of venetian life it may well be said that this was the start of howells successful literary career |