Sicily
A Literary Guide for Travellers
Published on 16. May 2019
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-83860-182-9 (ISBN)
Description
This compelling guide uncovers Sicily's multi-faceted personality through famous literary figures.
Rising up from the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has a rich and ancient history spanning over 2,000 years. A bounty prized by invaders from the Greeks, Romans and Vandals to the Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Sicily's beautiful landscapes are haunted by a vibrant mix of cultures and her soil has always been fertile ground for the literary and artistic imagination.
This compelling guide uncovers the influence of those literary figures who have managed to get under the island's skin - from Pindar, Cicero and Aeschylus to Shakespeare and Cervantes; DH Lawrence, Coleridge and Oscar Wilde to Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Ezra Pound and Lawrence Durrell; as well as local writers who have defined the modern Italian novel - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and Leonardo Sciascia.
Through their words and lives, we witness the beauty, pain and power of the Sicilian cultural landscape and discover how the potent mix of influences on the island's society has been preserved forever in literature.
Rising up from the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has a rich and ancient history spanning over 2,000 years. A bounty prized by invaders from the Greeks, Romans and Vandals to the Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Sicily's beautiful landscapes are haunted by a vibrant mix of cultures and her soil has always been fertile ground for the literary and artistic imagination.
This compelling guide uncovers the influence of those literary figures who have managed to get under the island's skin - from Pindar, Cicero and Aeschylus to Shakespeare and Cervantes; DH Lawrence, Coleridge and Oscar Wilde to Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Ezra Pound and Lawrence Durrell; as well as local writers who have defined the modern Italian novel - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and Leonardo Sciascia.
Through their words and lives, we witness the beauty, pain and power of the Sicilian cultural landscape and discover how the potent mix of influences on the island's society has been preserved forever in literature.
Reviews / Votes
...a wonderful text on the literary diversity of the island. -- Giles Foden * Conde Nast Traveller * Sicily: A Literary Guide for Travellers takes you into Sicily's real personality, with fascinating insights into the character, history and culture of this enigmatic island. And it's also one hell of a reading list! * Sicily Inside & Out *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
18 black and white images in 8 pages plates section, 1 map
Dimensions
Height: 207 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
365 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83860-182-9 (9781838601829)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Andrew Edwards is a librarian, translator and freelance writer. He has translated two books by the Spanish author Alejandro Luque, written articles for The Linguist magazine and also had translations published in Mirator and the Medieval History journal.
Suzanne Edwards is a linguistics graduate and lecturer. Between her and Andrew, they have written widely on Sicily, its food, culture and literature.
Suzanne Edwards is a linguistics graduate and lecturer. Between her and Andrew, they have written widely on Sicily, its food, culture and literature.
Content
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Map
Introduction
1 Palermo and Surroundings: Peeling the Onion
2 The Tyrrhenian Coast: Castles in the Air
3 Messina, Taormina and the North-East Coast: A Playground for the Literati
4 Catania and Mount Etna: Under the Shadow of the Volcano
5 Syracuse and the South-East: The Sybaritic South
6 Agrigento and the South Coast: Sulphur Spirits and Greek Temples
7 Enna and the Interior: Sicily's Bread Basket
8 Trapani and the West: Salt, Wine and the Misty Goddess
Author Profiles
Chronology
Select Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Map
Introduction
1 Palermo and Surroundings: Peeling the Onion
2 The Tyrrhenian Coast: Castles in the Air
3 Messina, Taormina and the North-East Coast: A Playground for the Literati
4 Catania and Mount Etna: Under the Shadow of the Volcano
5 Syracuse and the South-East: The Sybaritic South
6 Agrigento and the South Coast: Sulphur Spirits and Greek Temples
7 Enna and the Interior: Sicily's Bread Basket
8 Trapani and the West: Salt, Wine and the Misty Goddess
Author Profiles
Chronology
Select Bibliography
Index