Sicily: Island of Beauty and Conflict

Description

The diversity of Sicily's history and culture is vividly portrayed in this book. In it, key events, places and artists are highlighted in wide-ranging articles presented in four parts: History, Cities, Ancient Sites and Artists. A rich tapestry emerges of an island that has experienced dramatic changes of fortune while becoming a melting-pot of cultural influences from the eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and mainland Italy. Commentary on the monuments and works of art, to be seen today, links Sicily past and present. With this book follow the stories of Dionysius' castle, the foundation of the cathedral at Monreale, the Sicilian poets who invented the sonnet and the British merchants who made Marsala wine an international brand. Tour the big cities of Catania and Messina, the resorts of Taormina and Cefalu, and the baroque hilltowns of south-eastern Sicily. Explore the ancient sites, among them Segesta, Selinunte and Agrigento. Witness the originality of the island's culture through the profiles of eight artists, sculptors and architects from the Renaissance to the twentieth century including Antonello da Messina, Giacomo Serpotta and Renato Guttuso, as well as Caravaggio, who left some of his last masterpieces on the island. This book complements the author's previous work on Syracuse and Palermo, filling in gaps in the island's story, to form a comprehensive trilogy on Sicily.

Jeremy Dummett is an expert on the history and culture of Sicily and the author of Syracuse, City of Legends: A Glory of Sicily and Palermo, City of Kings: The Heart of Sicily. He read history at Trinity College, Cambridge, and during his professional career lived for many years in Italy. Since retiring, he has been a regular visitor to Sicily. His website is www.jeremydummett.com

Jeremy Dummett is an expert in the history of Italy, with a deep understanding of Sicilian culture in particular, and this latest release completes his trilogy of books about the island... The author deftly pulls the diverse strands together by delving into the history and personalities that make up the fabric of this extraordinary island. * Italia! * Dummett is a historian and this is his third book about the island off Italy's toe; he evidently loves the place and has researched it in detail. -- Jenny Coad * The Times Saturday Review *