When a fire rips through the Venetian Arsenal in 1569, the enigmatic Emanuele De Zante, spy-catcher and secret agent, is betrayed by his lover, imprisoned, and accused of treason. Given the chance to escape, he embarks on a trans-European odyssey that will test his loyalty and force him to question even his own identity.
Through a series of deadly political games leading all the way to the Sultan's palace in Constantinople, De Zante and his companions spiral headfirst toward a conflict in which the great empires of the Republic of Venice and the Ottomans threaten the very foundations of civilization.

"Altai is a great historical thriller and the prose has all the surface glitter of the Grand Canal or the Golden Horn." -Edward Stourton, Financial Times

About the Author
Wu Ming is a collective of four Italian fiction writers based in Bologna, Italy. Wu Ming's books include the bestselling novel Q (under the former pseudonym Luther Blissett), which was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award, 54, and Manituana. Their website is www.wumingfoundation. com.

Reviews
If you like your historical fiction with plenty of explosions and Turkish-inflected interjections, this is right up your alley. * Kirkus Reviews *
If you loved Q; no, if you were swept away by a passion that became an addiction to that monumental novel, take a deep breath and start reading again. * La Repubblica *
Skillfully written ... it is difficult not to shiver. * La Stampa *



Book Information
ISBN 9781781681671
Author Wu Ming
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Verso Books
Publisher Verso Books
Weight(grams) 302g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 130mm * 20mm