Chapter 9, "The Last Canto" Summary

Chapter nine focuses on several different stories. In the beginning, Berendt recalls a story of Henry James writing a book while staying at the Palazzo Barbaro. The title of the book is The Aspern Papers, and is a psychological thriller that Henry James based on a real life story. Berendt notes that the book has the same theme as another of his books, The Wings of the Dove: the theme of love as a means of gaining something of value.

Berendt makes a visit to the Palazzo Capello, the model of Henry James' book. He comes in contact with a dour-faced woman who denies him access to the garden to take a look.

Berendt confesses that he first thinks of the book about a month after the fire at the Fenice. He reads in the...