“Saving Venice”: Local, Global and Transnational Perspectives on Cultural Heritage in Children’s Fantasy

Children’s literature increasingly portrays cultural heritage conservation as a transnational effort, particularly when heritage sites like Venice face global threats. This study analyzes three 21st-century children’s fantasies set in Venice—Stravaganza: City of Masks, Mistica Maeva e l’anello di Venezia, and The Undrowned Child—to explore how these narratives balance local identity with global perspectives. The research reveals that while globalization has expanded the reach of such literature, it also complicates the depiction of heritage preservation, especially for UNESCO-listed sites under pressure. By examining translations and international audiences, the study highlights the tension between safeguarding cultural heritage and embracing transnational commonality in contemporary children’s fantasy.

Myers, L. (2019). “Saving Venice”: Local, Global and Transnational Perspectives on Cultural Heritage in Children’s Fantasy. Humanities, 8(2), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/h8020105