Set in Venice during the vibrant carnival season, this novel follows the intertwining lives of aristocrats and locals caught in a web of intrigue, romance, and mystery. Braddon masterfully evokes the city's enchanting atmosphere while unraveling the secrets and ambitions of her characters. From bustling piazzas to quiet canals, The Venetians offers a rich portrayal of love and betrayal amid the splendor of Venice at the turn of the century. Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a prolific British author, best known for her sensational novels during the Victorian era. Born on October 4, 1835, she wrote over 80 novels throughout her career, but she gained widespread fame with her breakthrough novel Lady Audley's Secret (1862), which became one of the most popular sensation novels of the time. Sensation novels were a genre of Victorian fiction that mixed mystery, crime, and domestic drama with themes of deceit, hidden identities, and shocking secrets.