Sicily : an island at the crossroads of history / John Julius Norwich.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Norwich, John Julius, 1929-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sicily (Italy)--History.

Sicily (Italy).

Sicily (Italy)--Civilization.

Sicily (Italy)--Kings and rulers--History.

Sicily (Italy)--History, Military.

Physical Description:

xxvii, 362 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm

Edition:

First U.S. edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Random House, [2015]

Summary:

"'Sicily,' said Goethe, 'is the key to everything.' The birthplace of Archimedes, Georgio de Chirico, and Muhammad al-Idrisi, it is the largest island in the Mediterranean. The stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, the gateway between the East and the West, the link between the Latin world and the Greek, at once a stronghold, clearing-house and observation-point, it has been fought over and occupied in turn by all the great powers that have striven over the centuries to extend their dominion across the Middle Sea. John Julius Norwich offers a vivid, erudite, page-turning account of an island and the remarkable kings, queens, and tyrants who fought to rule it. From its beginnings as a feared Greek city-state to its rise as a wealthy, multicultural trading hub during the Crusades, to its rebellion against Italian unification and the rise of the Mafia, the story of Sicily is rich with extraordinary moments and dramatic characters. Norwich outlines the surprising influence Sicily has had on world history--the Roman fascination with Greek culture dates back to their sack of Sicily--and tells the story of one of the world's most kaleidoscopic cultures in a galvanizing, contemporary way"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Greeks

Carthaginians

Romans, Barbarians, Byzantines, Arabs

Normans

The end of the kingdom

Stupor Mundi

The Vespers

The domination of Spain

Piracy and revolution

The coming of the Bourbons

Napoleon, Nelson and the Hamiltons

Joseph and Joachim

The end of the Murats

The Carbonari and the Quarantotto

Risorgimento

The Mafia and Mussolini

The Second World War.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 337-339) and index.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Scott fund bookplate.

ISBN:

9780812995176 : HRD

0812995171 : HRD

OCLC:

904715530