The Invention of Sicily Audiobook By Jamie Mackay cover art

The Invention of Sicily

A Mediterranean History

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The Invention of Sicily

By: Jamie Mackay
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

Sicily has always acted as a gateway between Europe and the rest of the world. Fought over by the Phoenicians and Greeks, the Romans, Goths and Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Germans, and the Spanish and the French for thousands of years, Sicily became a unique melting pot where diverse traditions merged, producing a unique heritage and singular culture.

In this fascinating account of the island from the earliest times to the present day, author and journalist Jamie Mackay leads us through this most elusive of places. From its pivotal position in the development of Greek and Roman mythology, and the beautiful remnants of both the Arab and Norman invasions, through to the rise of the bandits and the Cosa Nostra, The Invention of Sicily is the perfect companion to the culture and history of Sicily.

Mackay weaves the political and social development of the island in with its fascinating cultural heritage - in doing so discussing how great works including Lampedusa's masterpiece The Leopard and its film adaptation by Visconti, and the novels of Leonardo Sciascia, among many others, have both been shaped by Sicily's past, and continue to shape it into the present.

©2021 Jamie Mackay (P)2021 Tantor
20th Century Italy Ancient History Island France Crusade Historical Nonfiction
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What listeners say about The Invention of Sicily

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Perfect summary of Sicilian history!

Well written, great narration, exactly the kind of high level, overarching information as an introduction to Sicily. As a student of political history, and a first generation Sicilian, this book addressed all the important aspects of history. I anticipated it would be dry and boring. This book is anything but that! Thank you, Jamie McKay!

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A must read before visiting Sicily

I learned so much from reading this history prior to visiting Sicily last summer. The span of history of this unique part of Italy, quite different from the mainland, is remarkable. I'm in love with Sicily, where my husband's parents are from. We will return again and again.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great primer to Sicilian history

The book includes just the right amount of detail for the curious beginner, covering major periods of Sicilian history. My only wish is that the voice actor would have done some research on pronunciations of Italian and Sicilian names and words; he consistently butchers even the simplest of pronunciations. It would seem obvious to most people that you should do that if you're in fact narrating a book about Sicily.

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Sumptuous, tender and delightful surprising

A captivating description of sicily's socio-political 3000year development, freshly written from dozens of nuancesed perspectives.

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Great summary of Sicilian history

Exactly what I was looking for to complement a trip to Sicily. Highly recommend. Great narration.

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Wonderful overview of Sicily

Comprehensive and entertaining account of Sicily’s history and culture—excellent narration—a great way for visitors to learn about what they are about to experience



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