Sicilia

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 most powerful dynasties in the world. Even so, 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 an exciting 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, the history of Sicily is full of extraordinary moments and notable figures, such as the Normans, Charles III, Nelson and Lady Hamilton, Garibaldi, Mussolini or Cosa Nostra. With his usual skill, elegance and humour, Norwich gives us a masterful account of one of the most diverse and interesting islands in the world.