Journey from Venice by Ruth Cracknell

Ruth Cracknell, beloved Australian icon of stage and screen, had already written her official memoir- A Biased Memoir- before taking the eponymous journey to Venice, which she doe s with her husband, Eric Phillips, between engagements with the Sydney Theatre Company. On day two or three of the journey, he is admitted to hospital with an uncontrollably bloody nose, which then becomes a stroke, a cancer diagnosis, and a tortuous navigation to have him medically evacuated to Australia, where he dies a few weeks after arrival. The story is obviously hideous for her, and the B plot is how this city of Venice, at first so enticing and romantic with its complicated architecture and social hierarchy becomes a villain in the story. 

Despite being a memoir, she manages to make it not about her by referring to herself only ever as "Mrs Philipps". Hah. Only in a woman's memoir. On the flip side, there's a scene when two Australians, holidaying in Venice, recognise Ruth from tv and approach her to say hello. She blurts out to them the horrible story about her husband's illness, and how she's navigating this all alone and doesn't speak Italian. I bet those Aussies still tell that story.

This book foreshadows The Year of Magical Thinking in exploring the loss of a life's companion, and dealing with strangers- especially medical personnel- who just can't and don't understand it all. She, like, Joan Didion, gives voice to universal love and grief. It's lovely to have someone with such skills write it all down.