The Invention of Sicily

A Mediterranean History

By: Jamie Mackay

Narrated by: John Lee

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

Sumptuous, tender and delightful surprising

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

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.

Nothing subtle here

This is an overview of Sicily’s history from an academic Communist perspective. If you understand what you are getting, it is OK. However, it makes me hunger for a more objective history, or maybe a countervailing right•wing history.

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.

Interesting Overall History

Very nice look at Sicily throughout history, from the Greeks to modern day, without getting bogged down in minute details. Having ancestry from Northern Italy, I now understand better the opinions of my nonni about the Sicilians (snobbish as they were) and the backgrounds of so many of my friends with Sicilian ancestry. Having traveled to Europe extensively and also to North Africa, I can’t wait to experience Sicily in a few months!

The narrator reads a tad fast, so the 30-second rewind comes in handy. But he gets through the book quickly.