Synopsis: Dionysus

It is in the year 1889, at the end of autumn, when George Collins learns about the death of his father. He also finds out that his life so far has been a lie, that he is in fact the illegitimate son of Sir George Fairfax, who will bequeath him a large sum – if George is willing to accept the conditions of his will.
„Go to Venice and save your brother“, writes Lord Fairfax – a brother whose existance has remained virtually unknown to George for all his life.

But George is not exactly well-off and the train ticket comes with the testament – so he takes the chance and leaves for Italy. „I'm doing it just for the money“, he tells himself.
Having arrived in Venice he meets his half-brother Percy Fairfax for the first time – and he gets to know Percy's mentor, an engimatic scholar, who calls himself Henry Dionysus and forms the centre of a group of intellectuals and artists, who amidst of the decaying city indulge in sensuous art and decadent poetry.
George considers their activities excentric but harmless and sees no need for his brother to be „saved“, so he decides to leave Venice as soon as possible.
But when his attractive acquaintance Julia reveals herself as a member of Dionysus' circle and George finds out about Dionysus' true involvement into the fate of the Fairfax family it is too late. Not only Percy, also George has long been trapped within the net. Acqua alta, the spring hightide approaches and Venice refuses to let him go.

As Dionysus and his followers prepare to celebrate their own version of the old Venetian Carnival, George finally decides to fulfill his father's will – at all costs...