Sicilia

A fascinating journey through the history of the most enigmatic island in the Mediterranean. Goethe said: "Sicily is the key to everything." The Italian island, the largest in the Mediterranean, is the bridge between Europe and Africa, the gateway between East and West. Its strategic location has made it coveted by Roman emperors, French princes, and Spanish kings over the centuries, and conflicts between its inhabitants and foreign powers have played a crucial role in the rise and fall of some of the world's most powerful dynasties. Yet, Sicily has gone almost unnoticed in the annals of history. In this volume, the result of his fascination with the island, John Julius Norwich offers us a thrilling journey through Sicily's turbulent past. From its beginnings as a Greek city-state to its emergence as a center of multicultural trade during the Crusades, to its many rebellions against its oppressors, Sicily's history is filled with extraordinary moments and remarkable figures, including the Normans, Charles III, Nelson and Lady Hamilton, Garibaldi, Mussolini, and Cosa Nostra. With his usual skill, elegance, and humor, Norwich delivers a masterful account of one of the world's most diverse and interesting islands.