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Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History
Critically acclaimed author John Julius Norwich weaves the turbulent story of Sicily into a spellbinding narrative that places the island at the crossroads of world history.
“Sicily,� said Goethe, “is the key to everything.� It is the largest island in the Mediterranean, the stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, the link between the Latin West and the Greek East. Sicily’s strategic location has tempted Roman emperors, French princes, and Spanish kings. The subsequent struggles to conquer and keep it have played crucial roles in the rise and fall of the world’s most powerful dynasties.
Yet Sicily has often been little more than a footnote in books about other empires. John Julius Norwich’s engrossing narrative is the first to knit together all of the colorful strands of Sicilian history into a single comprehensive study. Here is a vivid, erudite, page-turning chronicle of an island and the remarkable kings, queens, and tyrants who fought to rule it. From its beginnings as a Greek city-state to its emergence as a multicultural trading hub during the Crusades, from the rebellion against Italian unification to the rise of the Mafia, the story of Sicily is rich with extraordinary moments and dramatic characters. Writing with his customary deftness and humor, Norwich outlines the surprising influence Sicily has had on world history—the Romans� fascination with Greek civilization 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.
This volume has been a long time coming—Norwich began to explore Sicily’s colorful history during his first visit to the island in the early 1960s. The dean of popular historians leads his readers through the millennia with the steady narrative hand of a master teacher or the world’s most learned tour guide. Like the island itself, Sicily is a book brimming with bold flavors that begs to be revisited again and again.
Praise for Sicily
“Suavely readable . . . The very model of a popular historian, [Norwich] writes to give pleasure to the common reader. And what pleasure it is.� � The Wall Street Journal
“Entertaining on every page . . . There is something ancient and sorrowful in Sicily, ‘some dark, brooding quality,� just as captivating as its spellbinding history or its beautiful and varied landscapes, from beaches to lemon groves, pine forests to volcanoes. . . . The most amiable and freewheeling of guides, Norwich will always find time for the amusing anecdote.� � The Sunday Times
“Utterly engrossing . . . written with passion about the art and architecture of this magical island, filled with gossipy tidbits and sweeping historical theories.� � The Daily Beast
“Dazzling . . . Norwich is an elegantly graceful and entertaining storyteller.� � Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Charming . . . richly nuanced history relayed with enormous fondness.� � Kirkus Reviews
“A brisk and always-lively tour.� � Open Letters Monthly
“Norwich is deeply in love with Sicily. [His] boundless affection has inspired a determined effort to understand its painful past. The result is impressionistic, as love often is.� � The Times
“Norwich sketches personalities vividly. . . . He does the island and the reader a generous service in providing such an amiable introduction.� � The Sunday Telegraph
“Norwich tells [Sicily’s] long, sad but fascinating story with sympathy and brio.� � Literary Review
“Sicily,� said Goethe, “is the key to everything.� It is the largest island in the Mediterranean, the stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, the link between the Latin West and the Greek East. Sicily’s strategic location has tempted Roman emperors, French princes, and Spanish kings. The subsequent struggles to conquer and keep it have played crucial roles in the rise and fall of the world’s most powerful dynasties.
Yet Sicily has often been little more than a footnote in books about other empires. John Julius Norwich’s engrossing narrative is the first to knit together all of the colorful strands of Sicilian history into a single comprehensive study. Here is a vivid, erudite, page-turning chronicle of an island and the remarkable kings, queens, and tyrants who fought to rule it. From its beginnings as a Greek city-state to its emergence as a multicultural trading hub during the Crusades, from the rebellion against Italian unification to the rise of the Mafia, the story of Sicily is rich with extraordinary moments and dramatic characters. Writing with his customary deftness and humor, Norwich outlines the surprising influence Sicily has had on world history—the Romans� fascination with Greek civilization 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.
This volume has been a long time coming—Norwich began to explore Sicily’s colorful history during his first visit to the island in the early 1960s. The dean of popular historians leads his readers through the millennia with the steady narrative hand of a master teacher or the world’s most learned tour guide. Like the island itself, Sicily is a book brimming with bold flavors that begs to be revisited again and again.
Praise for Sicily
“Suavely readable . . . The very model of a popular historian, [Norwich] writes to give pleasure to the common reader. And what pleasure it is.� � The Wall Street Journal
“Entertaining on every page . . . There is something ancient and sorrowful in Sicily, ‘some dark, brooding quality,� just as captivating as its spellbinding history or its beautiful and varied landscapes, from beaches to lemon groves, pine forests to volcanoes. . . . The most amiable and freewheeling of guides, Norwich will always find time for the amusing anecdote.� � The Sunday Times
“Utterly engrossing . . . written with passion about the art and architecture of this magical island, filled with gossipy tidbits and sweeping historical theories.� � The Daily Beast
“Dazzling . . . Norwich is an elegantly graceful and entertaining storyteller.� � Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Charming . . . richly nuanced history relayed with enormous fondness.� � Kirkus Reviews
“A brisk and always-lively tour.� � Open Letters Monthly
“Norwich is deeply in love with Sicily. [His] boundless affection has inspired a determined effort to understand its painful past. The result is impressionistic, as love often is.� � The Times
“Norwich sketches personalities vividly. . . . He does the island and the reader a generous service in providing such an amiable introduction.� � The Sunday Telegraph
“Norwich tells [Sicily’s] long, sad but fascinating story with sympathy and brio.� � Literary Review
362 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2015
629 people are currently reading
2,704 people want to read
About the author
John Julius Norwich
122Ìýbooks641ÌýfollowersJohn Julius Norwich was an English historian, writer, and broadcaster known for his engaging books on European history and culture. The son of diplomat and politician Duff Cooper and socialite Lady Diana Manners, he received an elite education at Eton, Strasbourg, and Oxford, and served in the Foreign Service before dedicating himself to writing full-time.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
August 2, 2017
Informative and entertaining, Norwich's Sicily covers the long, storied history of the Trinacria from Greco-Roman times up to the post-war period. Full of interesting anecdotes, it paints a picture of an oppressed peasantry pretty much bearing down (with occasional sparks of resistance) while the kaleidoscope of rulers changed: Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Normans, Arabs, Spaniards, Bourbons, and the elusive Mafiosi. I have traveled extensively in Sicily and can vouch for the unique concentration of history and culture that Sicily contains and the breathtaking beauty of her patrimony: Monreale, Segeste, Selinunte, Agrigento, Ortygia, Ragusa Ibla, Noto, Modica. That being said, this is not a guidebook so it does miss a few other amazing places (the hanging village of Erice next to Trapani or the baroque masterpiece of Scicli).
Very readable, this book is a fantastic introduction to the island, but to truly understand it, you need to go there. Besides this book, I would recommend The Blue Guide for its unparalleled descriptions of the cultural sites, Peter Robb's Midnight in Sicily for a more contemporary view of Sicily, and of course, the greatest literary contribution that Sicily has bequeathed humanity, Lampedusa's magistral The Leopard.
On the negative side, it is clear that Mr. Norwich (House of Lords, etc) has a weakness for the royals and all their intrigues (bedroom, courtroom, etc) and I must admit I was a little disappointed that much of the narrative was about these inbred morons and not about Sicily itself.
Very readable, this book is a fantastic introduction to the island, but to truly understand it, you need to go there. Besides this book, I would recommend The Blue Guide for its unparalleled descriptions of the cultural sites, Peter Robb's Midnight in Sicily for a more contemporary view of Sicily, and of course, the greatest literary contribution that Sicily has bequeathed humanity, Lampedusa's magistral The Leopard.
On the negative side, it is clear that Mr. Norwich (House of Lords, etc) has a weakness for the royals and all their intrigues (bedroom, courtroom, etc) and I must admit I was a little disappointed that much of the narrative was about these inbred morons and not about Sicily itself.
Read
February 23, 2020"The old name was Trinacria, referring to Sicily’s vaguely triangular shape; this was also used for its ancient symbol, the triskelion, of three concentric legs."
In this concise history of Sicily, we are whisked through thousands of years of history.
The Table of Contents gives us an idea of what to expect, and I'll mention some of the highlights.
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
� Epilogue
The story of Sicily is picked up when the Greeks arrived around the middle of the 8th century BC, and "...they introduced the olive and the vine, and rapidly built up a flourishing community. This soon became one of the major cultural centres of the civilized world, the home of poets such as Stesichorus of Himera � he whom the gods struck blind for composing invectives against Helen of Troy � and philosophers such as the great Empedocles of Acragas."
Today the magnificent Greek sites of Selinunte, Segesta and Agrigento are all worth a visit. In Ortigia, the little island attached to Syracuse, the magnificent cathedral has been a place of worship for centuries. In fact it dates to the 5th century BC, when it had originally been a temple dedicated to Athena. The Byzantines converted it to a Christian church, and subsequently the Arabs converted it to a Mosque. It once again became a Christian church, was damaged in a devastating earthquake and rebuilt in the Barocque style. This cathedral still stands, and has continuously been a place of worship from the time it was first constructed. Syracuse harbour is also where the entire Athenian fleet was destroyed during the Peloponnese war. Syracuse was the birthplace of Archimedes, and he was killed there by a Roman soldier.
By the end of the First Punic War, Sicily was in Roman hands. Under Governor Gaius Licinius Verres the Sicilians suffered great depredations, and eventually he was recalled to Rome to be put on trial. To prosecute him, the Sicilians appointed the great Marcus Tullius Cicero. There was some prosperity during Roman times as evidenced by the Villa Casale in the town of Piazza Armerina. The mosaics at the Villa are magnificent and according to the author they were almost certainly the work of African craftsmen.
In the 5th century AD, the barbarians, that is the Goths, Huns and Vandals arrived. Next the Saracens made Sicily their home. They brought with them agricultural innovations and introduced cotton, papyrus, melon, pistachio, citrus and dates. Soon trade was flourishing.
The 11th century was the time of the Norman Conquest of Sicily. Robert Guiscard and Roger, two of the many de Hauteville sons, played a prominent part. During this period foundations were laid for a multicultural society. Roger de Hauteville's son became Roger II, King of Sicily. This ushered in a golden age for Sicily. There was religious and ethnic tolerance. Sicily became a prominent centre of Hellenic studies.
In 1131 Roger II began work on the beautiful cathedral in the lovely little beach resort of Cefalù. There was also the magnificent Palatine Chapel which was consecrated in 1140. "And so the chapel was further embellished with what is, quite literally, its crowning glory, surely the most unexpected covering to any Christian church on earth � a stalactite ceiling of wood in the classical Islamic style, as fine as anything to be found in Cairo or Damascus, intricately decorated with the earliest datable group of Arabic paintings in existence � and figurative paintings at that."
As regards Roger: "By the 1140s he had given a permanent home in Palermo to many of the foremost scholars and scientists, doctors and philosophers, geographers and mathematicians of Europe and the Arab world; and as the years went by he would spend more and more of his time in their company, well able to hold his own in their discussions, whether in French or Latin, Greek or Arabic." Roger II's tomb is in Palermo Cathedral.
Through marriage Sicily passed into the hands of Henry of Hohenstaufen, the Germanic Holy Roman Emperor. His son became known as Stupor Mundi due to his erudition. "As he grew older, it became impossible to find a subject which did not interest him. He would spend hours, not only in study but in long disputations on law or religion, philosophy or mathematics. Often, too, he would withdraw to one of his parks or country palaces, there to study the birds and animals that were to be a lifelong passion. Many years later he was to write a book on falconry, De Arte Venandi cum Avibus, which became a classic, displaying a knowledge and understanding of wildlife rare indeed in the thirteenth century." He founded the University of Naples.
In 1266 Charles of Anjou was crowned King of Sicily. By 1282 the Angevins were detested in Sicily, and when a drunken soldier pestered a Sicilian woman the event known to us as the Sicilian Vespers occurred in which the French were massacred. (Famous composer Giuseppe Verdi composed an opera by that title, and based on that story.) After that the Sicilians were not interested in accepting French rule.
Then the Spanish House of Aragon came into power, and with it came the Inquisition. The Duke of Osuna was happy to have theatre performances on Sundays and even to have women performing on stage, in disregard of the Inquisition.
Along came devastating earthquakes and the rebuilding in Baroque style of the towns Noto, Ragusa and Modica. Noto in particular is absolutely splendid.
The Piedmontese ruled, the Austrians ruled. By now Sicily was pretty much Spanish and they did not take to Austrian rule at all. The English were involved, and there is an account of the infamous affair between Captain Horatio Nelson and Lady Hamilton. The Bonapartes feature.
Finally we get to the Risorgimento and we meet Garibaldi and the Red Shirts. Garibaldi had quite an extraordinary effect not only on the Sicilians, but across the world. "For by now Garibaldi’s expedition had caught the imagination of the world. In England especially, the excitement mounted day by day. Appeals for funds were launched; Charles Dickens and Florence Nightingale were among the contributors. The Royal Small-Arms Factory in Enfield sent an artillery gun, duty free. In France, extracts from Garibaldi’s memoirs were published in Le Siècle after careful editing by Alexandre Dumas himself.fn4 In America, the New York Times compared Garibaldi to Washington, while the New York Daily Tribune published a blistering attack on the Bourbons by the paper’s London correspondent, Karl Marx." "In London alone, nearly half a million prints of his portrait were sold, and as early as 1861 Messrs Peek Frean of Bermondsey launched their new firm with the Garibaldi biscuit –better known as the ‘squashed fly� –which has remained popular ever since."
Italy becomes unified under King Victor Emmanuel. The story of Sicily moves on to the Mafia, Mussolini and the Second World War.
Certainly a very complex history, but as the author states: "And yet, for all its troubled history, Sicily remains a jewel. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a wealth of monuments from so wide a variety of civilizations –Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, German, French, Spanish, Neapolitan –gathered in so small a space and combined with so much that is Sicily’s own: the dazzling baroque, for example, of Noto, Ragusa and Modica, the almost unbelievable stucco work of Giacomo Serpotta, even the traditional puppet theatre which, quite apart from its very considerable entertainment value, helps immeasurably in our understanding of the Sicilian people and their past."
I have but scratched the surface here; there is a wealth of detail even though masses of history had to be condensed into single chapters. I loved the way that people and events outside of Sicily were also mentioned. Various Plantagenets popped up, French Kings, Hannibal, etc. etc. The book was perfect for someone like myself who is not an historian, but who would like to know more about that island.
November 12, 2018
Norwich came to Sicily in 1961 in search of some sun; this brief history written at age 85 was his testament to the lifelong passion he found. Like all of his ilk, it runs past the years of ruin while pacing more praisingly through the golden years. Sicily's antiquity is well-integrated into greater Greco-Roman history.
It is only with the Norman kingdom of the 11th-13th centuries that the island becomes a power in its own right, displaying an unrivaled degree of what nowadays is termed 'multiculturalism'. Its universities could exploit a wealth of original Arab sources, rather than weak translations exported from Al-Andalus to the rest of scholastic Europe.
By the late Middle Ages, the island was again relegated to the Cash Cow of whatever country was the Power That Be : first France, then Spain, and so forth until the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with its Palermo-Messina rivalries, was voided together with the Bourbon dynasty.
It's this continuous predicament that explains why lawlessness towards an indifferent government birthed the modern Mafia by the late 19th century, even if it claimed roots in the bloody anti-French riot of the Sicilian Vespers.
It is only with the Norman kingdom of the 11th-13th centuries that the island becomes a power in its own right, displaying an unrivaled degree of what nowadays is termed 'multiculturalism'. Its universities could exploit a wealth of original Arab sources, rather than weak translations exported from Al-Andalus to the rest of scholastic Europe.
By the late Middle Ages, the island was again relegated to the Cash Cow of whatever country was the Power That Be : first France, then Spain, and so forth until the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with its Palermo-Messina rivalries, was voided together with the Bourbon dynasty.
It's this continuous predicament that explains why lawlessness towards an indifferent government birthed the modern Mafia by the late 19th century, even if it claimed roots in the bloody anti-French riot of the Sicilian Vespers.
August 16, 2017
50th book for 2017.
A disappointing history of Sicily.
This book came across as rather lazy storytelling; mostly just covering the intrigues of the various kings and queens associated with Sicily over the last 3000 years. There is almost no discussion of culture (other than some glib comments about the Sicilians, including that proposition that they are overall a sad people!). The book ends very abruptly in the 1950s shortly after the World War Two.
While I found it sort of useful as a way of orientating myself in very broad brushstrokes about the influence of various groups (Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Spanish etc), but will need read other books to get any real sense of the island and its people.
Not recommended.
A disappointing history of Sicily.
This book came across as rather lazy storytelling; mostly just covering the intrigues of the various kings and queens associated with Sicily over the last 3000 years. There is almost no discussion of culture (other than some glib comments about the Sicilians, including that proposition that they are overall a sad people!). The book ends very abruptly in the 1950s shortly after the World War Two.
While I found it sort of useful as a way of orientating myself in very broad brushstrokes about the influence of various groups (Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Spanish etc), but will need read other books to get any real sense of the island and its people.
Not recommended.
July 27, 2015
The author, a journalist-historian, attempts the impossible: a book that engages the reader in the three millennia long documented history of the island of Sicily. The island was fought over and occupied by every power who ever wanted dominion over the Mediterranean, because of the island's size and prime location.
More than other books that cover such a vast swath of time, this author succeeds, with a sharp eye for anecdote and historical personalities. Three thousand years of history, amazingly, don't feel rushed! There are entertaining stories from the past that bring the times alive with the people, their actions, and their adventures and misfortunes.
"The history of Sicily...is a sad one, because Sicily is a sad island...this book is, among other things, an attempt to analyze its causes."
Sicily's earliest recorded history is Greek, with locations playing a large part in Greek's mythological gods and their battles, including Bacchus and the first grape vines on the slopes of Etna. But the history of Sicily stretches back much further, into the era of the great Carthage, her ancestors the Phoenicians, and the Neolithic cultures and the mysterious Mycenaeans, the Mediterranean's first great power.
The prose is lovely. The facts are presented in a manner that is not overwhelming if you have a basic grounding of European history. If you don't have that grounding, you may find yourself overwhelmed at times. Sicily's history has been linked to the flows of power between the ruling European dynasties and countries for her whole history!
My advice is to take the book slowly, and supplement it with reading the Wikipedia articles on the various peoples, battles, or events mentioned in the book. If you do that, by the end of the book, you'll have increased your knowledge tremendously.
Within the history he presents, the author manages to mention highlights of Sicily's cultural heritage that tourists can visit, as well as literature and popular writing such as Camilleri's popular police procedural novels featuring Inspector Montalbano.
Beware, however, that ancient history was institutionally sadistic, soaking the soil of Sicily (and all the soil surrounding the Mediterranean and throughout Asia) with human blood. The only oddity I found relating to this was that the author appeared to take the side of Rome against the slaves who periodically fought for their freedom.
Sicily, more than many other land, also seemed to have a death-wish, both in personal character and in Mother Nature: the cities of the island were continually divided by internal strife and external rivalries; earthquakes, volcanoes, droughts, tsunamis, floods, malaria and plagues of various kinds have struck (and continue to strike) the island with regularity.
"It is the sorrow of long, unhappy experience, of opportunity lost and promise unfulfilled--the sorrow, perhaps, of a beautiful woman who has been betrayed too often and is no longer fit for love or marriage."
That quote from the book is quite apt for Sicily, an island who only since roughly the end of the Second World War has had an autonomous government. The centuries of foreign powers (16+) exploiting her position and soil and sun and harbors built up a mistrust in the locals that created a knee-jerk reaction of benign resistance and criminality when faced with any type of governance, even when that governance was to the island's benefit. Many of those who wished to help Sicily ended up abandoning it for those reasons, deciding:
"the place was impossible; the best thing to do was leave it alone"
The land-based society coupled with widespread ignorance and illiteracy (only 1% could read and write in 1860) meant that only since the post World War II period, when educational reforms coupled with the building of local governance and social institutions including a strong judiciary and law enforcement capacity were begun, has Sicily made steady advancement into the modern age.
The informatics age has contributed to a huge leap forward for the island, by allowing the inhabitants to see the how the modern world functions, and how the world views Sicily's malfunction. The future looks much brighter for Sicily as the new generation strives to bring their beautiful island forward with industry and tourism.
This book will have especial appeal for those about to visit Sicily, and for those who are of Sicilian descent. The pleasant writing style is modest, wise, humorous and nearly conversational, flowing seamlessly from subject to subject, and era to era. But nicest of all is the author's love of, passion even for, Sicily that shines through every word, as does his love of history and his erudition.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at my Italophile Book Reviews site. I received a review-copy of the book for my honest review.
More than other books that cover such a vast swath of time, this author succeeds, with a sharp eye for anecdote and historical personalities. Three thousand years of history, amazingly, don't feel rushed! There are entertaining stories from the past that bring the times alive with the people, their actions, and their adventures and misfortunes.
"The history of Sicily...is a sad one, because Sicily is a sad island...this book is, among other things, an attempt to analyze its causes."
Sicily's earliest recorded history is Greek, with locations playing a large part in Greek's mythological gods and their battles, including Bacchus and the first grape vines on the slopes of Etna. But the history of Sicily stretches back much further, into the era of the great Carthage, her ancestors the Phoenicians, and the Neolithic cultures and the mysterious Mycenaeans, the Mediterranean's first great power.
The prose is lovely. The facts are presented in a manner that is not overwhelming if you have a basic grounding of European history. If you don't have that grounding, you may find yourself overwhelmed at times. Sicily's history has been linked to the flows of power between the ruling European dynasties and countries for her whole history!
My advice is to take the book slowly, and supplement it with reading the Wikipedia articles on the various peoples, battles, or events mentioned in the book. If you do that, by the end of the book, you'll have increased your knowledge tremendously.
Within the history he presents, the author manages to mention highlights of Sicily's cultural heritage that tourists can visit, as well as literature and popular writing such as Camilleri's popular police procedural novels featuring Inspector Montalbano.
Beware, however, that ancient history was institutionally sadistic, soaking the soil of Sicily (and all the soil surrounding the Mediterranean and throughout Asia) with human blood. The only oddity I found relating to this was that the author appeared to take the side of Rome against the slaves who periodically fought for their freedom.
Sicily, more than many other land, also seemed to have a death-wish, both in personal character and in Mother Nature: the cities of the island were continually divided by internal strife and external rivalries; earthquakes, volcanoes, droughts, tsunamis, floods, malaria and plagues of various kinds have struck (and continue to strike) the island with regularity.
"It is the sorrow of long, unhappy experience, of opportunity lost and promise unfulfilled--the sorrow, perhaps, of a beautiful woman who has been betrayed too often and is no longer fit for love or marriage."
That quote from the book is quite apt for Sicily, an island who only since roughly the end of the Second World War has had an autonomous government. The centuries of foreign powers (16+) exploiting her position and soil and sun and harbors built up a mistrust in the locals that created a knee-jerk reaction of benign resistance and criminality when faced with any type of governance, even when that governance was to the island's benefit. Many of those who wished to help Sicily ended up abandoning it for those reasons, deciding:
"the place was impossible; the best thing to do was leave it alone"
The land-based society coupled with widespread ignorance and illiteracy (only 1% could read and write in 1860) meant that only since the post World War II period, when educational reforms coupled with the building of local governance and social institutions including a strong judiciary and law enforcement capacity were begun, has Sicily made steady advancement into the modern age.
The informatics age has contributed to a huge leap forward for the island, by allowing the inhabitants to see the how the modern world functions, and how the world views Sicily's malfunction. The future looks much brighter for Sicily as the new generation strives to bring their beautiful island forward with industry and tourism.
This book will have especial appeal for those about to visit Sicily, and for those who are of Sicilian descent. The pleasant writing style is modest, wise, humorous and nearly conversational, flowing seamlessly from subject to subject, and era to era. But nicest of all is the author's love of, passion even for, Sicily that shines through every word, as does his love of history and his erudition.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at my Italophile Book Reviews site. I received a review-copy of the book for my honest review.
May 27, 2017
A gentle introduction to the history of Sicily, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Norwich outlines how Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese and Spaniards wash over the island - each adding a little something to the cultural, linguistic and racial mix.
I quite like Norwichs erudite and gossipy style, though a whole chapter on Nelson and Lady Hamilton was too much for me.
I quite like Norwichs erudite and gossipy style, though a whole chapter on Nelson and Lady Hamilton was too much for me.
August 9, 2020
In the last few decades the island of Sicily has become a desired tourist destination for travellers in Europe, and deservedly so. The beauty and archaeological riches found on the island are wondrous to behold, and one is astonished at the extent and variety of its history. Of the very earliest inhabitants not much seems to be known; but the extensive traces of ancient Greece, as well as Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Norman influences can be found all over.
In this work Norwich attempts to convey some of the variety and complexities of the island. He gives himself the rather daunting task of covering some 2,500 years of history in a mere 340-odd pages. The necessary condensation can only serve to scratch the surface, and at best touches lightly on historical events and artefacts. As for the “people� themselves there is hardly any attempt at any consolidation, a task which is perhaps impossible. As Norwich himself points out in his introduction, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spaniards and the French have all left their marks. For most of the time the people have been “occupied� or colonised by these “others�. Despite this there is little to suggest that they were subjugated � indeed, as Norwich repeatedly says when referring to them, they were always more or less ungovernable, regardless of who was “in charge�.
Norwich seems to think this to be a sad state of affairs; that they were rarely “happy�. Yet I would suggest that this misses the point. I would proffer instead that all this cross-pollination resulted in a stoic, fiercely independent Sicilian identity, with its uniquely beautiful dialect, so specialised as to be almost a separate language in itself, and which might well serve as a beacon of individual self-determination, created almost in defiance of all Sicily’s invaders and occupiers, regardless of how well or badly they were treated by their overlords.
Disclaimer: I was born in North Queensland in Australia, where my parents met and married. Both of them had migrated to Australia at different times during the period between the two World Wars. I suppose one could say that I was raised tri-lingual: I spoke and wrote Australian English, but I was also adept at speaking and understanding the Sicilian dialect, and later also studied “proper� Italian. I grew up aware of the poverty and heartache of the Sicilians forced to migrate, but also gloried in the many stories of the beauty and excitement of the island itself, its culture and its fruitfulness. There was an unquestioned fierce pride in being Sicilian which I still carry with me. Even today, when asked what my background is, I will say Australian, of course, but if pressed I will say Sicilian first and foremost, and only secondly Italian. So I am biased!
Back to the book. The first part (up to chapter 7) and the last part (from chapter 14 on) are perhaps the most accessible and useful “histories� (barring my caveats above). The section covered by chapters 8�13 inclusive, however, (during which, in general “nothing happened� in Sicily) I found the most difficult and awkward to get through. In the middle of this section, when the European aristocracy were squabbling as usual over their European acquisitions, comes the story of Nelson and the Hamiltons, “which�, Norwich considers, “could on no account be omitted.� I beg to differ.
All in all I feel the book has both too much information and too little. Too much on histories which would probably be no more than footnotes on European aristocratic pursuits (and in which, in my opinion, the aristocrats lose out) � and too little on the people and culture of the island itself. More, perhaps, on the island’s ruling classes and aristocracy, and of the overweening power and influence of the Vatican on the island, would have been both educative and illuminating. I would also have preferred more maps showing the extent of the foreign ownership of Sicily by the many occupying nations and cultures at various times in its history, and also more extensive notes (and even cross-references to the text) for the inserted illustrations and photos.
But beggars can’t be choosers. Norwich’s book does provide us with a loving view of Sicily, and it’s worth reading if only to whet up an appetite and appreciation (albeit limited) of what is there.
Best of all, however, would be to actually visit Sicily itself for a unique and unforgettable experience.
In this work Norwich attempts to convey some of the variety and complexities of the island. He gives himself the rather daunting task of covering some 2,500 years of history in a mere 340-odd pages. The necessary condensation can only serve to scratch the surface, and at best touches lightly on historical events and artefacts. As for the “people� themselves there is hardly any attempt at any consolidation, a task which is perhaps impossible. As Norwich himself points out in his introduction, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spaniards and the French have all left their marks. For most of the time the people have been “occupied� or colonised by these “others�. Despite this there is little to suggest that they were subjugated � indeed, as Norwich repeatedly says when referring to them, they were always more or less ungovernable, regardless of who was “in charge�.
Norwich seems to think this to be a sad state of affairs; that they were rarely “happy�. Yet I would suggest that this misses the point. I would proffer instead that all this cross-pollination resulted in a stoic, fiercely independent Sicilian identity, with its uniquely beautiful dialect, so specialised as to be almost a separate language in itself, and which might well serve as a beacon of individual self-determination, created almost in defiance of all Sicily’s invaders and occupiers, regardless of how well or badly they were treated by their overlords.
Disclaimer: I was born in North Queensland in Australia, where my parents met and married. Both of them had migrated to Australia at different times during the period between the two World Wars. I suppose one could say that I was raised tri-lingual: I spoke and wrote Australian English, but I was also adept at speaking and understanding the Sicilian dialect, and later also studied “proper� Italian. I grew up aware of the poverty and heartache of the Sicilians forced to migrate, but also gloried in the many stories of the beauty and excitement of the island itself, its culture and its fruitfulness. There was an unquestioned fierce pride in being Sicilian which I still carry with me. Even today, when asked what my background is, I will say Australian, of course, but if pressed I will say Sicilian first and foremost, and only secondly Italian. So I am biased!
Back to the book. The first part (up to chapter 7) and the last part (from chapter 14 on) are perhaps the most accessible and useful “histories� (barring my caveats above). The section covered by chapters 8�13 inclusive, however, (during which, in general “nothing happened� in Sicily) I found the most difficult and awkward to get through. In the middle of this section, when the European aristocracy were squabbling as usual over their European acquisitions, comes the story of Nelson and the Hamiltons, “which�, Norwich considers, “could on no account be omitted.� I beg to differ.
All in all I feel the book has both too much information and too little. Too much on histories which would probably be no more than footnotes on European aristocratic pursuits (and in which, in my opinion, the aristocrats lose out) � and too little on the people and culture of the island itself. More, perhaps, on the island’s ruling classes and aristocracy, and of the overweening power and influence of the Vatican on the island, would have been both educative and illuminating. I would also have preferred more maps showing the extent of the foreign ownership of Sicily by the many occupying nations and cultures at various times in its history, and also more extensive notes (and even cross-references to the text) for the inserted illustrations and photos.
But beggars can’t be choosers. Norwich’s book does provide us with a loving view of Sicily, and it’s worth reading if only to whet up an appetite and appreciation (albeit limited) of what is there.
Best of all, however, would be to actually visit Sicily itself for a unique and unforgettable experience.
June 22, 2019
This books is good when it actually covers events that take place on Sicily. Norwich is strong on the era of Greek dominance and particularly shines during the Norman period. However, much of work's remainder discusses mainland European politics and how these affected who ruled Sicily, not happenings on the island, itself. For instance, the reader will find summaries of ancient Roman civil wars, the war of the Spanish succession, and the Napoleonic conflict. While such events are truly fascinating, they have very little to do with anything actually occurring on Sicily. Those seeking a focus on the island--rather than on who ruled it and why--should probably look elsewhere.
November 4, 2018
I have deeply mixed feelings. On the one hand, Norwich's set himself a massive task, writing a cohesive narrative history of an island that has often been on the fringes of other, better-known empires and events, rarely truly the master of his own destiny. And to his credit, Norwich has a knack for homing in on the characters, anecdotes and events that are most likely to capture a reader's attention.
That said, Norwich has many glaring flaws as a historian. He wrote this book well into his eighties, and his attitudes towards some of his subjects make that unsurprising. He can be fairly sexist towards the women who come across his pages, when he acknowledges their influence at all. However, the way in which he's most glaringly a man and historian of his era comes across in the sweeping generalizations, offered with little to no evidence, that he repeatedly makes about how different races, particularly the Arabs, influenced the island--he repeatedly alludes to various troubles being due to "the oriental character" of certain men, and implies that the mafia's rise was rooted in the Arab conquest of Sicily nearly a millennium before, without offering any plausible causation at all. That failing means we never get to hear a more full exploration of how and why corrupt institutions seem to have thrived in Sicily in particular. Those clear prejudices, combined with his failure to offer anything beyond a "great man" account of the island, makes it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly.
That said, Norwich has many glaring flaws as a historian. He wrote this book well into his eighties, and his attitudes towards some of his subjects make that unsurprising. He can be fairly sexist towards the women who come across his pages, when he acknowledges their influence at all. However, the way in which he's most glaringly a man and historian of his era comes across in the sweeping generalizations, offered with little to no evidence, that he repeatedly makes about how different races, particularly the Arabs, influenced the island--he repeatedly alludes to various troubles being due to "the oriental character" of certain men, and implies that the mafia's rise was rooted in the Arab conquest of Sicily nearly a millennium before, without offering any plausible causation at all. That failing means we never get to hear a more full exploration of how and why corrupt institutions seem to have thrived in Sicily in particular. Those clear prejudices, combined with his failure to offer anything beyond a "great man" account of the island, makes it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly.
May 24, 2024
A royal mess. Not the book. The book is great. It is J.J. Norwich’s usual speedrun through history in his signature breathless style that keeps the drama moving forward at all times. Norwich does not waste any time on descriptions of life back then. It’s all who did what to whom on what motivation and what happened as a result, over and over and over again. (There are a couple of landmark touristy sections early-on, but these are brief.)
This fairly clears up 2,000+ years of Sicilian history and takes care of a lot of Italian history to boot!
First the feisty Greeks, next the fighting Romans, then the surprisingly liberal Arabs, some crazy Normans, followed by wacky Germans, awful Spanish, disdainful French, and finally the possessive Italians � each group of rulers arrive and have their day in the sun of the strategic isle. But the darkness swallows them all in the end. Truly a royal mess.
One feels most for the peasants, who never, through all these changes, truly get out from under the rich landowners—the corrupt property system stays in place throughout.
Fun fact: The US military negotiated with the Sicilian mafia to get US dockworkers to cooperate in WWII, and also to get Sicily not to resist the Allied invasion. It worked.
This fairly clears up 2,000+ years of Sicilian history and takes care of a lot of Italian history to boot!
First the feisty Greeks, next the fighting Romans, then the surprisingly liberal Arabs, some crazy Normans, followed by wacky Germans, awful Spanish, disdainful French, and finally the possessive Italians � each group of rulers arrive and have their day in the sun of the strategic isle. But the darkness swallows them all in the end. Truly a royal mess.
One feels most for the peasants, who never, through all these changes, truly get out from under the rich landowners—the corrupt property system stays in place throughout.
Fun fact: The US military negotiated with the Sicilian mafia to get US dockworkers to cooperate in WWII, and also to get Sicily not to resist the Allied invasion. It worked.
March 30, 2018
Fantastically dull, honestly. And it seems more focused on the Romans and the other colonizers/invaders of Sicily than Sicilians themselves. I get that some context is vital to understanding a colonized land and people, but this book spends way too much time on the invaders. While I get that information can be scarce, skipping literally hundreds of years of time with a "well Sicily didn't seem to have any problems because the outsiders controlling them didn't mention them during this time" is a bit sloppy.
I guess I expected something about Sicily from the perspective of Sicily. What I got was a book written entirely from the point of view of the many, many invaders of Sicily. Which is pointless. I didn't finish this book. I suppose I'll have to learn Sicilian so I can actually read about my motherland.
I guess I expected something about Sicily from the perspective of Sicily. What I got was a book written entirely from the point of view of the many, many invaders of Sicily. Which is pointless. I didn't finish this book. I suppose I'll have to learn Sicilian so I can actually read about my motherland.
September 26, 2021
So much of this book was either not very interesting or (early on) not even set in Sicily. It’s obvious the author’s heart is in the Norman period and that part of the book is especially good.
Norwich shows us that they have a very long history of depressing invasions, poverty and unhelpful leadership. Even in recent times he felt they were a brooding less than happy people. The book becomes more appealing after about the first 100 pages.
Norwich shows us that they have a very long history of depressing invasions, poverty and unhelpful leadership. Even in recent times he felt they were a brooding less than happy people. The book becomes more appealing after about the first 100 pages.
Read
April 7, 2017I read this book in preparation for a trip to Sicily, and I suspect that many readers would choose it for the same reason. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and think it would appeal to anyone interested in the Mediterranean region.
Sicily has an amazing history, dating back three thousand years. In the 8th century BCE, it was one of the major cultural centres of the civilized world. Succeeding centuries brought one invader after another, often with dire consequences for the Sicilians themselves. At one point Norwich says "Sicily is a sad island" and I think that this is definitely one takeaway for me after reading the book. Certainly, it gives one a better understanding of some of the challenges faced more recently, with organized crime and continuing poverty.
Despite the sadness, John Julius Norwich clearly loves Sicily and its people. He is an engaging writer who intersperses historical facts with lots of anecdotes and information of interest to anyone planning to visit Sicily. I certainly felt, on finishing the book, that I had a much greater appreciation of the island and its people.
Sicily has an amazing history, dating back three thousand years. In the 8th century BCE, it was one of the major cultural centres of the civilized world. Succeeding centuries brought one invader after another, often with dire consequences for the Sicilians themselves. At one point Norwich says "Sicily is a sad island" and I think that this is definitely one takeaway for me after reading the book. Certainly, it gives one a better understanding of some of the challenges faced more recently, with organized crime and continuing poverty.
Despite the sadness, John Julius Norwich clearly loves Sicily and its people. He is an engaging writer who intersperses historical facts with lots of anecdotes and information of interest to anyone planning to visit Sicily. I certainly felt, on finishing the book, that I had a much greater appreciation of the island and its people.
September 26, 2015
No review yet. This is a book I will buy. It's difficult as the history is difficult. It can only be taken in small, chewy bites. I can not read this straight through. There's just too much. Sometimes dry but always complex, and with multitudes of inputs and controls to both its apparent and mysterious composites. This author has accomplished what is, to me, an impossible task.
If you are looking for serf experience or reasons for the unhappiness or distrust, or work related habits of the last few centuries, this is not that book. This is the History of top down controls, ever changing. Because of the confluence of immense differences in origins and entire world paradigms here and the illiteracy of the majority, those factors would be another type of book. This one covers enough for 3 volumes in History dynamics alone.
If you are looking for serf experience or reasons for the unhappiness or distrust, or work related habits of the last few centuries, this is not that book. This is the History of top down controls, ever changing. Because of the confluence of immense differences in origins and entire world paradigms here and the illiteracy of the majority, those factors would be another type of book. This one covers enough for 3 volumes in History dynamics alone.
May 24, 2022
Updated rating upon reflection and remembrance of the Anti Arab racism undercutting this tome. Even without: poorly written and uninteresting. Reminds me of one of my firmest beliefs: no Brit has written a good history of Italia.
September 25, 2019
An entertaining entry on the history of Sicily by someone with deep passion for the island. Although, when we reach the early-modern era I feel the author puts too much emphasis on the geo-political turmoil in Europe, trying desperately and unnecessarily to connect figures such as Napoleon to events in Sicily. Furthermore, the whole chapter on the Hamiltons and Lord Nelson was way too detailed and perhaps underlines the author's narrative on the history of the island. But overall a good � and often witty � introduction to the history of Sicily.
March 28, 2021
A bad history book which I recommend to avoid. Author provides a number of historical events divided in chapters without in depth analysis how these events shaped the culture, social and built environment of the island. The information you get from this book can be easily obtained from a google research.
I’m wondering what Patton/Monty rivalry in WW2 serves in telling the story of Sicily during the war or the physical appearance of Cavour and Vittorio during Risorgimento.
Also, how readers rate with more than 1 star and reviewers are raving about this book?
I’m wondering what Patton/Monty rivalry in WW2 serves in telling the story of Sicily during the war or the physical appearance of Cavour and Vittorio during Risorgimento.
Also, how readers rate with more than 1 star and reviewers are raving about this book?
April 21, 2019
I would've preferred more information about the Sicilian people - the heroes of this history, as Norwich put it - and less about the kings and queens who reigned, but it was an entertaining read nonetheless.
3.5/5 stars
3.5/5 stars
August 21, 2020
It goes indeed from the Greeks to the Mafia, and the few big literal earthquakes in between.
In the meantime, it looks like every power had a hold on Sicily for a bit, so it's very easy to lose track. Not that they actually did much for the island though, says Norwich. Most have left the developed port cities on the edges completely isolated from the inner land, being responsible of the huge differences and slow development.
He liked the Normans though, because during their time all the different ethnicities on the island, Greeks, Arabs, Jews, Christians, started to live in peace and prosperity and form a nation. Shortly after the Great schism and during the era of the crusades.
He passes through a lot, including the dealings between Napoleon and Nelson, as well as he dedicates some time to Garibaldi. One of the most wrenching chapters is that on the times of the Inquisition. Horrible, terrible.
So a lot happened and even if maybe not much went to the Sicilians themselves, the trip I'll take, 4 days, seems already too short: the richness of the cultural legacy should be out of this world.
At some point, an Italian statesman, Massimo D'Azeglio, writes in his memoirs with respect to the unification of Italy "L'Italia è fatta. Restano da fare gli italiani", translated colloquially as "We have made Italy. Now we must make Italians." I wonder if that work is done or not 🙂
Overall, I liked the book and his style of storytelling, it makes me want to read more history. Through the end I realized how good JJN was at putting things into the international historical context.
In the meantime, it looks like every power had a hold on Sicily for a bit, so it's very easy to lose track. Not that they actually did much for the island though, says Norwich. Most have left the developed port cities on the edges completely isolated from the inner land, being responsible of the huge differences and slow development.
He liked the Normans though, because during their time all the different ethnicities on the island, Greeks, Arabs, Jews, Christians, started to live in peace and prosperity and form a nation. Shortly after the Great schism and during the era of the crusades.
He passes through a lot, including the dealings between Napoleon and Nelson, as well as he dedicates some time to Garibaldi. One of the most wrenching chapters is that on the times of the Inquisition. Horrible, terrible.
So a lot happened and even if maybe not much went to the Sicilians themselves, the trip I'll take, 4 days, seems already too short: the richness of the cultural legacy should be out of this world.
At some point, an Italian statesman, Massimo D'Azeglio, writes in his memoirs with respect to the unification of Italy "L'Italia è fatta. Restano da fare gli italiani", translated colloquially as "We have made Italy. Now we must make Italians." I wonder if that work is done or not 🙂
Overall, I liked the book and his style of storytelling, it makes me want to read more history. Through the end I realized how good JJN was at putting things into the international historical context.
March 8, 2025
I now understand why my nonno and nonna emigrated from Sicily now.....
November 13, 2017
A very good history of the large island that had Greek, Roman and African forefathers. Interesting. I read the entire book, partly while I was in Sicily, and thought it was helpful in explaining much of the ancient ruins that I saw. I think it would also be a good reference book.
March 15, 2025
Informative and entertaining. I get the criticism about the focus on the various invaders and their political machinations. I would also have been interested in the lives of ordinary Sicilians, but I suspect such information was extremely scarce. For a broad overview of what happened, when, and sort of why, it serves very well. This was Norwich's last book and what a fitting end of a brilliant career. I hope to get a copy of his 'The Normans in the South' one of these days!
April 3, 2021
Beautifully written and easy to read; exactly what I want from a comprehensive history book.
Absolutely loved reading this, as it further helped me place world events in context. Everything is so interconnected, it's incredible!
Absolutely loved reading this, as it further helped me place world events in context. Everything is so interconnected, it's incredible!
August 7, 2019
This book raises a methodological question, viz. what is Sicily? Too often the impression one gets from this book is that it is a thing constituted by a certain set of political structures, but the obvious follow-up is: what do they have in common? The answer is also obvious: it is the island itself.
The reason for this tedious point is that the book focuses far more on the ruling elites of Sicily than the island or its people and really does beg this question. Several features exacerbate: it is standard pop history, i.e. narrative history, with little analysis that might stop it feeling at times like a barrage of personalities, anecdotes and events; it tries to cover over 2500 years in around 350 pages, which is bold and probably requires an at least partly broad-brush approach; the ruling elites we come to know and grow weary of were very often foreign, with overseas territory and titles, and thus we are very often not reading about the island of Sicily at all.
The most interesting parts of the book were all 'description of the state on the ground' rather than chronicling of events. But these did not really approach any sustained analysis. Many things were left unsaid, or too little remarked on. I would have far preferred to have learnt more about the local economy, culture, political structures, etc, across many periods, than read an entire chapter focussed on Lord Nelson. I was dismayed at the shortness of the section on Roman Sicily - perhaps little of interest happened at the level of high politics and war, but people continued to live and die there nevertheless - could we not have been told a little more simply about what Roman Sicily was like? I found it hard to stay focussed in the Habsburg and Bourbon periods as I simply could not bring myself to care about those tedious aristocrats. In short, the trees were rushed, and often not the authentically Sicilian ones I had come looking for, and there was little in the way of woods.
In conclusion I sadly find this book fundamentally misconceived because the ground on which it might have built thematic unity - the island itself and its people - was too ignored. In fact I wonder whether Norwich wanted to write it, as a personal elegy, far more than it wanted to be read. It did however remind me more than once of fast food chain Leon's Sicilian chicken meatballs meal, which I once enjoyed on the District line, eastbound, from South Kensington.
The reason for this tedious point is that the book focuses far more on the ruling elites of Sicily than the island or its people and really does beg this question. Several features exacerbate: it is standard pop history, i.e. narrative history, with little analysis that might stop it feeling at times like a barrage of personalities, anecdotes and events; it tries to cover over 2500 years in around 350 pages, which is bold and probably requires an at least partly broad-brush approach; the ruling elites we come to know and grow weary of were very often foreign, with overseas territory and titles, and thus we are very often not reading about the island of Sicily at all.
The most interesting parts of the book were all 'description of the state on the ground' rather than chronicling of events. But these did not really approach any sustained analysis. Many things were left unsaid, or too little remarked on. I would have far preferred to have learnt more about the local economy, culture, political structures, etc, across many periods, than read an entire chapter focussed on Lord Nelson. I was dismayed at the shortness of the section on Roman Sicily - perhaps little of interest happened at the level of high politics and war, but people continued to live and die there nevertheless - could we not have been told a little more simply about what Roman Sicily was like? I found it hard to stay focussed in the Habsburg and Bourbon periods as I simply could not bring myself to care about those tedious aristocrats. In short, the trees were rushed, and often not the authentically Sicilian ones I had come looking for, and there was little in the way of woods.
In conclusion I sadly find this book fundamentally misconceived because the ground on which it might have built thematic unity - the island itself and its people - was too ignored. In fact I wonder whether Norwich wanted to write it, as a personal elegy, far more than it wanted to be read. It did however remind me more than once of fast food chain Leon's Sicilian chicken meatballs meal, which I once enjoyed on the District line, eastbound, from South Kensington.
December 22, 2015
Acclaimed historian John Julius Norwich begins his study of Sicily with a quote by Goethe, "Sicily, is the key to everything."
While Norwich provides no immediate, concise answer, the entire book serves as a lengthy explanation of Goethe's statement. Sicily is a crossroads of civilizations, and how the very land has transferred from Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Spanish, French and eventually, Italian, rule, provides a lengthy mosaic of a kaleidoscope of different histories and cultures, the sum of which gives us a unique island in itself, Sicily.
Inevitably, the book at times gives one a sense of deja vu, as though they are reading another historical study, as one encounters familiar Greek, Roman, Napoleonic or even WWII history, however, it would be impossible to give a history of Sicily without giving adequate attention to the wider dynamics of European history of the time. Sicily is firmly embedded in the European balance of power, and has long been of immense strategic significance, hence the appearance of characters such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon or Montgomery within this volume.
Despite including various other histories, Norwich fulfills his mission of providing a history of Sicily, in a concise, readable and informative manner.
While this is is familiar territory for Norwich, Norwich has ably accomplished what he set out to do, to provide a short history of Sicily in one volume, and it is indeed a pleasure to read, and may be the definitive study on the Mediterranean's largest island for some time to come.
While Norwich provides no immediate, concise answer, the entire book serves as a lengthy explanation of Goethe's statement. Sicily is a crossroads of civilizations, and how the very land has transferred from Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Spanish, French and eventually, Italian, rule, provides a lengthy mosaic of a kaleidoscope of different histories and cultures, the sum of which gives us a unique island in itself, Sicily.
Inevitably, the book at times gives one a sense of deja vu, as though they are reading another historical study, as one encounters familiar Greek, Roman, Napoleonic or even WWII history, however, it would be impossible to give a history of Sicily without giving adequate attention to the wider dynamics of European history of the time. Sicily is firmly embedded in the European balance of power, and has long been of immense strategic significance, hence the appearance of characters such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon or Montgomery within this volume.
Despite including various other histories, Norwich fulfills his mission of providing a history of Sicily, in a concise, readable and informative manner.
While this is is familiar territory for Norwich, Norwich has ably accomplished what he set out to do, to provide a short history of Sicily in one volume, and it is indeed a pleasure to read, and may be the definitive study on the Mediterranean's largest island for some time to come.
June 13, 2017
'Sicily: A short History from the Ancient Greeks to Cosa Nostra', by John Julius Norwich, is the sixth box I've read by this author and it does not disappoint.
As the work's title indicates, Norwich attempts to survey the history of Sicily from the arrival of the first Greek settlers on the island in the 8th century BC until the fall of Mussolini's Fascist regime in the 1940's. In terms of its scale, this is undoubtedly ambitious, and I am not sure whether it is entirely achieved. For example, chapters pertaining to the Norman rule in Sicily, while undeniably interesting, dwarf the book's other chapters. However, this can likely be written off as being a product of author's area of interest and expertise.
Nonetheless, and as stated by the author in his preface, one gets the impression throughout that the book is a 'labour of love'. This is perhaps best evidenced by the lively, engrossing and informative narrative woven by Norwich.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and well written overview of Sicily's history. Indeed, having read the book my appetite to learn more about the House of Bourbon, the House of Savoy, and Italian reunification in general has been wetted.
The book is definitely worthwhile picking up for anyone looking for a readable introduction to Sicily.
Happy reading,
Gavin
As the work's title indicates, Norwich attempts to survey the history of Sicily from the arrival of the first Greek settlers on the island in the 8th century BC until the fall of Mussolini's Fascist regime in the 1940's. In terms of its scale, this is undoubtedly ambitious, and I am not sure whether it is entirely achieved. For example, chapters pertaining to the Norman rule in Sicily, while undeniably interesting, dwarf the book's other chapters. However, this can likely be written off as being a product of author's area of interest and expertise.
Nonetheless, and as stated by the author in his preface, one gets the impression throughout that the book is a 'labour of love'. This is perhaps best evidenced by the lively, engrossing and informative narrative woven by Norwich.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and well written overview of Sicily's history. Indeed, having read the book my appetite to learn more about the House of Bourbon, the House of Savoy, and Italian reunification in general has been wetted.
The book is definitely worthwhile picking up for anyone looking for a readable introduction to Sicily.
Happy reading,
Gavin
October 5, 2022
Audiobook review. A complete history from Phoenicians thru ancient, medieval, crusades, renaissance, 1600-1700, Empires, Napoleon, WWI, �. Personalities. Garibaldi.
Things I didn’t know.
Normans occupied and built castles prior to Crusades.
Italy wasn’t a country until 1850s.
Absentee royalty started cultural origins of Mafia.
Garibaldi story.
WWII British and American generals squabbling over strategy. Lack of communication coordination between Air Force, Navies, Armies caused thousands of casualties by friendly fire.
Explains why Italy is not exactly a coordinated country.
Easy to follow history, didn’t get bogged down in a list of names and battles.
Things I didn’t know.
Normans occupied and built castles prior to Crusades.
Italy wasn’t a country until 1850s.
Absentee royalty started cultural origins of Mafia.
Garibaldi story.
WWII British and American generals squabbling over strategy. Lack of communication coordination between Air Force, Navies, Armies caused thousands of casualties by friendly fire.
Explains why Italy is not exactly a coordinated country.
Easy to follow history, didn’t get bogged down in a list of names and battles.
November 7, 2022
This largest island in the Mediterranean has been ruled by just about every major player in Western civilization. The author details the major periods: Greek, Carthaginians, Roman, Barbarian, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Spanish, Bourbon, and finally Italian unification, the development of the Mafia, the rise of Mussolini and its history in WWII. That’s obviously a lot to cover in 332 pages and I found myself wishing for more details at some points and bored by the almost endless listing of feudal rulers of the various city states at others. Not a great read but still worth having plodded through. 2½**
January 2, 2022
The reason that I originally picked up this book was that I wanted to learn more about the history of Sicily, an island which I have familial ties to. I am happy to say that now, after having finished this history, that I am quite satisfied.
Norwich's historical narrative is concise, lively, and surprisingly readable. From the earliest settlements of the Greeks and Romans of antiquity, to the Allied invasion of the island during World War II, Norwich's writing is chock-full of interesting details, personal observations and compelling anecdotes that truly bring these periods to life. The choice by the author to refrain from the dull sequential narration that is all too commonly found in large-scale histories was refreshing, and it made the content of his writing all the more palatable. It's patently clear that Norwich had a deep affection for the island of Sicily, and his writing is made better because of it.
It is worth mentioning that this book essentially covers the entire history of Sicily, and unfortunately there are points where the narrative sometimes suffers due to the broadness of the work. It's obvious after reading that Norwich is most interested in the period of Norman rule, the only time in Sicily's history that the island was truly independent, as those chapters receive the greatest deal of attention. Norwich's telling of the Norman period is undeniably captivating, truly the best part of the entire book, but I would have liked to have seen the same amount of attention given to other periods of Sicilian history featured in this work, such as the periods of Spanish or French rule, which receive a far broader treatment.
Overall, I really enjoyed Norwich's work. I came out of this book more knowledgable, and certainly more excited about Sicilian History than I had going into it. Going further, I was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic tone of Norwich's writing, which was a pleasant change from what I typically see in other historical narratives. I plan to pick up more of Norwich's works in the near future.
Norwich's historical narrative is concise, lively, and surprisingly readable. From the earliest settlements of the Greeks and Romans of antiquity, to the Allied invasion of the island during World War II, Norwich's writing is chock-full of interesting details, personal observations and compelling anecdotes that truly bring these periods to life. The choice by the author to refrain from the dull sequential narration that is all too commonly found in large-scale histories was refreshing, and it made the content of his writing all the more palatable. It's patently clear that Norwich had a deep affection for the island of Sicily, and his writing is made better because of it.
It is worth mentioning that this book essentially covers the entire history of Sicily, and unfortunately there are points where the narrative sometimes suffers due to the broadness of the work. It's obvious after reading that Norwich is most interested in the period of Norman rule, the only time in Sicily's history that the island was truly independent, as those chapters receive the greatest deal of attention. Norwich's telling of the Norman period is undeniably captivating, truly the best part of the entire book, but I would have liked to have seen the same amount of attention given to other periods of Sicilian history featured in this work, such as the periods of Spanish or French rule, which receive a far broader treatment.
Overall, I really enjoyed Norwich's work. I came out of this book more knowledgable, and certainly more excited about Sicilian History than I had going into it. Going further, I was deeply impressed by the enthusiastic tone of Norwich's writing, which was a pleasant change from what I typically see in other historical narratives. I plan to pick up more of Norwich's works in the near future.
May 7, 2022
A short popular history of Sicily from the Greek era to the end of WWII. Like many popular histories there is no original research. But Norwich is a good writer and the book moved along just fine. He is good at picking out witty bon mots from earlier writers. I think I would have enjoyed the book better as an audiobook.
My problems with the book are as follows:
1. This is history from the top down. Even though in his afterward he believes Sicily is about the common people, there is very little discussion of them. Sweeping judgments are made about the various populations. I suspect this would require original research in archives or an in depth review of sociological or anthropological articles. Instead, Norwich relies upon diaries and books by ambassadors and other hangers-on at the royal court.
2. His statement that "I will leave prehistory to the prehistorians." Couldn't he spare a chapter on that?
3. Ending his book soon after WWII. This book was published in 2015!
In his defense, Norwich was in his 80s when he wrote this book so he wasn't going to do the heavy lifting. In summary, the book is much more entertaining the the "history" sections you find in guidebooks and on Wikipedia but doesn't go beyond that.
My problems with the book are as follows:
1. This is history from the top down. Even though in his afterward he believes Sicily is about the common people, there is very little discussion of them. Sweeping judgments are made about the various populations. I suspect this would require original research in archives or an in depth review of sociological or anthropological articles. Instead, Norwich relies upon diaries and books by ambassadors and other hangers-on at the royal court.
2. His statement that "I will leave prehistory to the prehistorians." Couldn't he spare a chapter on that?
3. Ending his book soon after WWII. This book was published in 2015!
In his defense, Norwich was in his 80s when he wrote this book so he wasn't going to do the heavy lifting. In summary, the book is much more entertaining the the "history" sections you find in guidebooks and on Wikipedia but doesn't go beyond that.
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