This is a history told with a strong narrative element that makes it very compelling and readable. It presents a strong coherent theme running through the history which makes it more engaging but which probably also makes it less objective. That is, this book is so readable because the author's primary goal was to make it a compelling story more than an impartial exposition of historical events. That doesn't mean what is here isn't true, just that it is selected with an agenda and point of view. It is true history, but it isn't the same genre as a history textbook. One way this manifests is that major elements of Venetian commerce are missing almost entirely (e.g. it's role as a center of salt and glass production).

This book is perhaps a bit long but is worth a read if you approach it for what it is