Rising up from the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has a rich & ancient history spanning over 2, 000 years. A bounty prized by invaders from the Greeks, Romans & Vandals to the Byzantines, Arabs & Normans, Sicily`s violently beautiful landscapes are haunted by a vibrant mix of cultures & her soil has always been fertile ground for the literary & artistic imagination. This compelling guide uncovers the island`s multi-faceted personality through those literary figures who have managed to get under her skin
- from Pindar, Cicero & Aeschylus to Shakespeare & Cervantes; DH Lawrence, Coleridge & Oscar Wilde to Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Ezra Pound & Lawrence Durrell; as well as local writers who have defined the modern Italian novel
- Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa & Leonardo Sciascia. Through their words & lives we witness the beauty, pain & power of the Sicilian cultural landscape & discover how the potent mix of influences on the island`s society has been preserved forever in literature.

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` Sicily is the key to everything` Johann Wolfgang von Goethe `I discovered Sicily almost by mistake.. . We drove as far as Naples, then put the car on the night ferry to Palermo. There was a degree of excitement in the early hours when we passed Stromboli, emitting a rich glow every half-minute or so like an ogre puffing on an immense cigar; & a few hours later, in the early morning sunshine, we sailed into the Conca d` Oro, the Golden Shell, in which the city lies. Apart from the beauty of the setting, I remember being instantly struck by a change in atmosphere. The Strait of Messina is only a couple of miles across & the island is politically part of Italy; yet somehow one feels that one has entered a different world.. . This book is, among other things, an attempt to analyse why this should be.` The stepping stone between Europe & Africa, the gateway between the East & the West, at once a stronghold, clearing-house & observation post, Sicily has been invaded & fought over by Phoenicians & Greeks, Carthaginians & Romans, Goths & Byzantines, Arabs & Normans, Germans, Spaniards & the French for thousands of years. It has belonged to them all
- & yet has properly been part of none. John Julius Norwich was inspired to become a writer by his first visit in 1961 & this book is the result of a fascination that has lasted over half a century. In tracing its dark story, he attempts to explain the enigma that lies at the heart of the Mediterranean`s largest isl&. This vivid short history covers everything from erupting volcanoes to the assassination of Byzantine emperors, from Nelson`s affair with Emma Hamilton to Garibaldi & the rise of the Mafia. Taking in the key buildings & towns, & packed with fascinating stories & unforgettable characters, Sicily is the book he was born to write.
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` Sicily is the key to everything` Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The author of the classic book on Venice turns his sights to Sicily in this beautiful book full of maps & colour photographs. The stepping stone between Europe & Africa, the gateway between the East & the West, at once a stronghold, clearing-house & observation post, Sicily has been invaded & fought over by Phoenicians & Greeks, Carthaginians & Romans, Goths & Byzantines, Arabs & Normans, Germans, Spaniards & the French for thousands of years. It has belonged to them all
- & yet has properly been part of none. John Julius Norwich was inspired to become a writer by his first visit in 1961 & this book is the result of a fascination that has lasted over half a century. In tracing its dark story, he attempts to explain the enigma that lies at the heart of the Mediterranean`s largest isl&. This vivid short history covers everything from erupting volcanoes to the assassination of Byzantine emperors, from Nelson`s affair with Emma Hamilton to Garibaldi & the rise of the Mafia. Taking in the key buildings & towns, & packed with fascinating stories & unforgettable characters, Sicily is the book he was born to write.
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Few places in the world have experienced such an intense & eventful history as Sicily. Rocked by revolts & power-struggles, rejoicing in great splendour & freedoms, over thousands of years this small island has been a crossroads for many peoples, religions & cultures
- & its melting-pot of influences has created a unique spirit of ` Sicilian-ness`. This book
- with evocative photographs by Melo Minnella
- attempts to capture the elusive spirit of Sicily, its inhabitants & its landscape, & offers a sweeping account of the isl&, from ancient history up to the present day.


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Sicily: Catania & the Southeast in the Footprint Focus Guides, which are targeted at cities, regions & countries worldwide that have no, or very limited, coverage from other publishers. Widely recognised for their reliability & independent writing style, Footprint Focus guides all have the same layout. Smaller than their sister Handbooks, the Focus guides are intended to streamline the information contained so that you have more of what you need, without losing Footprint’s signature unrestrictive editorial style that gives authors the freedom to capture & explore local cultures, sights & areas that are often not covered in other guides. An introductory section introduces the reader to the destination, with chapters on planning on your trip & essentials, including practical information & guidance on subjects such as when & where to go, itineraries, sport & activities, arts, getting there & around, eating & drinks, sleeping & a dedicated section on the anticipated carbon footprint involved in travelling to the destination. Essentially a condensed, straight-to-the-point version of their Handbook series. ...

Sicily: Palermo & the Northwest in the Footprint Focus Guides, which are targeted at cities, regions & countries worldwide that have no, or very limited, coverage from other publishers. Widely recognised for their reliability & independent writing style, Footprint Focus guides all have the same layout. Smaller than their sister Handbooks, the Focus guides are intended to streamline the information contained so that you have more of what you need, without losing Footprint ...

A visual feast of one of Italy`s most loved destinations; Italy`s most seductive isl&, Sicily, is located in the heart of the Mediterranean. Thanks to its rich history, Sicilian food has Italian as well as Greek, Spanish, French, & Arab influences. Now Italian aficionados, Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi, head to the island to immerse themselves in its diverse food scene. Starting in the capital, Palermo, the couple come across some exciting street food that features tasty Arancini (rice balls stuffed with meat sauce & cheese) to lesser know gems such as Panelle (garbanzo bean fritters), & Sfincione, a thick Sicilian pizza, topped with tomatoes, onions, anchovies, & casciocavallo cheese. In Trapani they try a fish couscous & then head to Noto, where almonds dominate in some memorable desserts, including a classic Semifreddo & a refreshing Almond Granita (served with fresh brioche, for dunking). Nor would any Sicilian book would be complete without Pasta Alla Norma (pasta with tomatoes & eggplants) & the classic, ricotta-filled sweet delight Cannoli. ...

” Sick Heart River” is John Buchan`s most powerful novel & his last, completed days before his death. It was published posthumously in 1941. Buchan`s rich descriptions of the rugged Canadian Northwest Territories are influenced by his real-life voyage down the Mackenzie River in 1937. At that time, Buchan was Governor-General of Canada. The main character, the lawyer & politician Sir Edward Leithen
- perhaps the most autobiographical of Buchan`s characters
- has been diagnosed with advanced tuberculosis & has been given a year to live. A former colleague, American John S. Blenkiron, requests help to find his niece`s husb&, who appears to have flown from his very successful financial career to the Canadian north. Leithen agrees to help.

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This title presents the great & glorious events in Bristle's past, fully illustrated with line drawings & historical photographs. It is described by Derek as a slapstick dash through 600 years of local excitements. The cartoons are by Vic & Derek has provided the text. ...

One of the maps in the topographic survey of Peru from the country’s national survey organization, Instituto Geográfico Nacional. Contours are at 25m intervals & colouring/symbols indicate different types of terrain & vegetation. Some of the maps may contain small blank spaces representing as yet unmapped areas. Each sheet covers 30’ latitude by 30’ longitude. The maps have a 1km UTM grid & margin ticks for latitude & longitude at intervals of 1’. Publication dates vary; most maps were published in 1960s to 1990s, with some sheets revised more recently. Map legend is in Spanish only, except in the more recent editions which also include English. ...