# The Last Austrian Who Left Venice explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

The chapter follows the Pepé family in Venice during the Italian unification, focusing on Nina Pepé's love for Austrian Captain Hubert von Vincke. Her brother Carlo joins Garibaldi's volunteers, forcing Nina to choose between family loyalty and her love. After Austria cedes Venetia, Nina marries von Vincke, who becomes the last Austrian soldier to leave Venice, declaring himself triumphant despite losing the province.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Nina's love for Hubert von Vincke is tested by political and familial loyalties; their marriage is portrayed as a triumph of personal love over national conflict.

### Family Duty and Sacrifice

Carlo demands that Nina choose between family and lover; Nina promises to obey her brother, showing the weight of familial duty in times of war.

### Travel and Cultural Encounter

The encounter between Venetian and Austrian characters highlights cultural and political tensions in a city under foreign rule.

## Character check-ins

### Carlo Pepé

Nina's brother who joins Garibaldi's volunteers as second colonel, forcing a rift between his sister and her Austrian lover.

### Nina Pepé

Venetian woman who loves Austrian Captain von Vincke; she promises her brother not to see him until the war ends, but later marries him after Austria loses Venetia.

### Hubert von Vincke

Austrian captain in love with Nina; he is the last Austrian soldier to leave Venice, and marries Nina after the cession.

### Signora Pepé

Mother of Carlo and Nina; initially opposed to the Austrian but ultimately supports her son's patriotic cause.

## Key lines

> I am heartily sorry for this. I blame the women, and not you.

Carlo Pepé expresses regret and places blame on the women rather than on the man involved.

_Carlo's accusation reflects the tension between family loyalty and romantic attachment._

> A house divided against itself must fall.

Carlo argues that a family cannot survive if its members are on opposing sides of a conflict.

_This biblical allusion underscores the theme of family duty versus personal love._

> I learned this morning in the city, that I shall be the last Austrian soldier to leave Venice, and I hold that of all who have entered it, and all who have left it, I am the most successful and the most triumphant.

Hubert von Vincke declares that being the final Austrian to depart Venice makes him the most victorious of all who have come or gone.

_Von Vincke's paradoxical triumph emphasizes the personal victory of love over political loss._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters/the-last-austrian-who-left-venice
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_4_se/chapters