Tomasi was born in Palermo to Giulio Maria Tomasi, Prince of Lampedusa and Duke of Palma di Montechiaro, and Beatrice Mastrogiovanni Tasca Filangieri di Cutò. He became an only child after the death (from diphtheria) of his sister. He was very close to his mother, a strong personality who influenced him a great deal, especially because his father was rather cold and detached. As a child he studied in their grand house in Palermo with a tutor (including the subjects of literature and English), with his mother (who taught him French), and with a grandmother who read him the novels of Emilio Salgari. In the little theater of the house in Santa Margherita di Belice, where he spent long vacations, he first saw a performance of Shakespeare's Hamlet, performed by a company of travelling players. His cousin was Fulco di Verdura.
Ik las alleen De Tijgerkat . Siciliaanse prins ziet met lede ogen aan hoe midden 19e eeuw de macht van de adel aan het verkruimelen is en beseft dat er niets tegen te doen valt . Mooi melancholisch verhaal met waarschijnlijk één van de mooiste sterfscènes ooit
Mooie historische roman over de eenwording van Italië. Aan het einde van deze uitgave zit ook een aantal beschrijvingen over de jeugd van de schrijver, die heel duidelijk in de roman gebruikt zijn.