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The Normans in Sicily #1-2
The Normans in Sicily : The Magnificent Story of 'the Other Norman Conquest'
In 1016, a rebel Lombard lord appealed to a group of pilgrims for help-and unwittingly set in motion "the other Norman Conquest." The Normans in the South is the epic story of the House of of Robert Guiscard, perhaps the most extraordinary European adventurer between Caesar and Napoleon; his brother Roger, who helped him win Sicily from the Saracens; and his nephew Roger II, crowned at Palermo in 1130. The Kingdom in the Sun vividly evokes this "sad, superb, half-forgotten kingdom, cultivated, cosmopolitan, and tolerant," which lasted a mere 64 years. It concludes with the poignant defeat of the bastard King Tancred in 1194, bringing to a close this extraordinary chapter in Italian history. With a comprehensive listing of all of Sicily's surviving Norman monuments, the result is a superb traveler's companion and a masterpiece of the historian's art.
816 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
14 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
John Julius Norwich
155 books673 followersJohn Julius Norwich was an English historian, writer, and broadcaster known for his engaging books on European history and culture. The son of diplomat and politician Duff Cooper and socialite Lady Diana Manners, he received an elite education at Eton, Strasbourg, and Oxford, and served in the Foreign Service before dedicating himself to writing full-time.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.
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October 14, 2020Entertaining narrative history of how wandering Norman knights transformed themselves from mercenaries and cattle thieves into powerful lords and the rulers of Southern Italy and Sicily eventually forming a powerful Kingdom in 1130.
The Normans in the South Tells how simple, warlike, Norman pilgrims sent themselves up in southern Italy as the afore mentioned cattle thieves, mercenaries and adventurers, eventually acquiring lands and titles because they were good at fighting. This was a Norman habit for a couple of hundred years, much the same kind of thing happened in England, Wales, Ireland and bits of Syria too. Mysteriously at some point they collectively settled down. Anyway the first volume ends with all of southern Italy united and Sicily conquered from the Arabs, the entire region shaped into a polity that would exist, most of the time united, until Garibaldi.
The Kingdom in the Sun deals with the period of Normans rule over the Muslim, Greek and Italian communities of southern Italy, and the extension of Norman influence over the central Mediterranean to Northern Africa, their conflict with the Byzantine Empire and participation in the crusades.
Norwich produces an easy narrative, he has a taste for anecdote and taking sides, for instance renaming William the Bad William the Sad because he feels sorry for him (the dead King's opinion of this is unrecorded). Ideal as an introduction or for general readers interested in an alternative Norman conquest. For something more serious there is always The Norman Kingdom of Sicily by Donald Matthew.
The Normans in the South Tells how simple, warlike, Norman pilgrims sent themselves up in southern Italy as the afore mentioned cattle thieves, mercenaries and adventurers, eventually acquiring lands and titles because they were good at fighting. This was a Norman habit for a couple of hundred years, much the same kind of thing happened in England, Wales, Ireland and bits of Syria too. Mysteriously at some point they collectively settled down. Anyway the first volume ends with all of southern Italy united and Sicily conquered from the Arabs, the entire region shaped into a polity that would exist, most of the time united, until Garibaldi.
The Kingdom in the Sun deals with the period of Normans rule over the Muslim, Greek and Italian communities of southern Italy, and the extension of Norman influence over the central Mediterranean to Northern Africa, their conflict with the Byzantine Empire and participation in the crusades.
Norwich produces an easy narrative, he has a taste for anecdote and taking sides, for instance renaming William the Bad William the Sad because he feels sorry for him (the dead King's opinion of this is unrecorded). Ideal as an introduction or for general readers interested in an alternative Norman conquest. For something more serious there is always The Norman Kingdom of Sicily by Donald Matthew.
November 14, 2021
History of the Normans in Southern Italy starting with their immigration as landless mercenaries to the Norman Kingdom of Sicily’s foundation and its demise in the incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire.
11th Century Norman Knights (period piece)
My dead tree, format, book was a door stopping 816-pages which included footnotes, appendices, maps, illustrations, Bibliography and an index. It had a UK 2004 copyright.
John Julius Norwich was a British historian and writer of popular nonfiction. He was the author of more than forty books. He passed in 2018. This is the omnibus edition of his The Normans in Sicily series. It combines both The Normans in the South, 1016-1130 (The Normans in Sicily #1) and The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130 - 1194 (The Normans in Sicily #2) into a single volume.
I read the omnibus, book. The two (2), books of the series that make-up that edition were published separately, years apart. The omnibus edition was published decades after the books of the series. I felt the two books should be separately reviewed. Note that the omnibus, The Normans in Sicily: The Normans in the South 1016-1130 and the Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194 is better known and easier to find in print. However, its thickness may be daunting to most folks.
My separate reviews:
The Normans in the South, 1016-1130 (published 1967)
History of the lead-up to the foundation of the Norman, Kingdom of Sicily.
The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130 – 1194 (published 1976)
History of the Norman, Kingdom of Sicily’s foundation to its demise in the incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire.
Note the separate reviews are somewhat longer and go into greater detail on each of the halves of the omnibus edition.
Firstly, this was an intermediate-level text on the High Middle Ages in the central Mediterranean. It would be very helpful for a reader to already have a good background on early-Middle Ages in the Mediterranean, including the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire to fully appreciate this book.
This was a well-written, history in the Old Skool. That is, it was the history of personalities, mostly men but sometimes women, events, diplomacy, and brief descriptions of the wars (the failure of diplomacy) over a period of almost 200-years. During that time an immigrant population of Norman mercenaries insinuated themselves into a region in constant warfare. After about a generation, a member family founds the polyglot Kingdom of the Normans in southern Italy and the island of Sicily. The Norman Sicilian Kingdom rose to great influence in the Mediterranean and then disappeared into the larger Holy Roman Empire after about 80-years.
Norwich was a good writer. The narrative was very clear and factual. It’s very much in the bygone, British public school-style. Descriptions were well enough done. The author showed a marked preference for: architecture, art and geography. That the author also was a travel writer, was quite apparent. There was an unexpected amount of southern Italian and Sicilian sightseeing tips included. Norwich only includes the minimum amount of historical context. The reader was expected to gain historical context along the way. Without having a background in the period and the region, a reader would be at a severe disadvantage. This book also contained a different amount of political analysis between its halves. In addition, the description of the armed conflicts was very much abbreviated in the second half. In general the tenor of the book swung widely been the poles of being a popular and an academic history during its full length.
Use of maps was OK. However, maps of period Rome and a detailed map of period North Africa would have been useful. Use of tables and charts, was restricted to only genealogies. The photographs provided were good. Although, the majority were either architectural of churches and cathedrals or of period art.
Note the book was footnoted. Quotations were in four languages. I wish my Greek were better? I felt that Norwich unsuccessfully straddled the popular and academic history with his annotations, comments on historical sources, and bibliography.
The book was 50-years old. It was written in the old-style of history that emphasizes personalities. The lives and actions of men and sometimes women drove the narrative. As it is, it was mostly the story of Medieval Italian Celebrities. Modern, general histories tend to expand beyond just personalities. Personalities are still important. Although, absent critical circumstances, men and women don’t change history by their lonesome. Its men and women, technologies, organizations and external events that effect history. By concentrating on the “Who” aspect of history, Norwich made this book suitable only as an adjunct work for a proper history of the Norman's in Italy and Sicily. In addition, there is a certain amount of cultural dissonance to be found in the narrative for a modern reader.
This was an interesting story. I personally thought the first half (The Normans in the South) was a better rags to riches read. It was a story of a family that started out strong with nothing, founded an unusual kingdom in the middle ages for its time, but eventually lost everything by not being able to cope with the internal and geopolitics over three generations.
11th Century Norman Knights (period piece)
My dead tree, format, book was a door stopping 816-pages which included footnotes, appendices, maps, illustrations, Bibliography and an index. It had a UK 2004 copyright.
John Julius Norwich was a British historian and writer of popular nonfiction. He was the author of more than forty books. He passed in 2018. This is the omnibus edition of his The Normans in Sicily series. It combines both The Normans in the South, 1016-1130 (The Normans in Sicily #1) and The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130 - 1194 (The Normans in Sicily #2) into a single volume.
I read the omnibus, book. The two (2), books of the series that make-up that edition were published separately, years apart. The omnibus edition was published decades after the books of the series. I felt the two books should be separately reviewed. Note that the omnibus, The Normans in Sicily: The Normans in the South 1016-1130 and the Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194 is better known and easier to find in print. However, its thickness may be daunting to most folks.
My separate reviews:
The Normans in the South, 1016-1130 (published 1967)
History of the lead-up to the foundation of the Norman, Kingdom of Sicily.
The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130 – 1194 (published 1976)
History of the Norman, Kingdom of Sicily’s foundation to its demise in the incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire.
Note the separate reviews are somewhat longer and go into greater detail on each of the halves of the omnibus edition.
Firstly, this was an intermediate-level text on the High Middle Ages in the central Mediterranean. It would be very helpful for a reader to already have a good background on early-Middle Ages in the Mediterranean, including the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire to fully appreciate this book.
This was a well-written, history in the Old Skool. That is, it was the history of personalities, mostly men but sometimes women, events, diplomacy, and brief descriptions of the wars (the failure of diplomacy) over a period of almost 200-years. During that time an immigrant population of Norman mercenaries insinuated themselves into a region in constant warfare. After about a generation, a member family founds the polyglot Kingdom of the Normans in southern Italy and the island of Sicily. The Norman Sicilian Kingdom rose to great influence in the Mediterranean and then disappeared into the larger Holy Roman Empire after about 80-years.
Norwich was a good writer. The narrative was very clear and factual. It’s very much in the bygone, British public school-style. Descriptions were well enough done. The author showed a marked preference for: architecture, art and geography. That the author also was a travel writer, was quite apparent. There was an unexpected amount of southern Italian and Sicilian sightseeing tips included. Norwich only includes the minimum amount of historical context. The reader was expected to gain historical context along the way. Without having a background in the period and the region, a reader would be at a severe disadvantage. This book also contained a different amount of political analysis between its halves. In addition, the description of the armed conflicts was very much abbreviated in the second half. In general the tenor of the book swung widely been the poles of being a popular and an academic history during its full length.
Use of maps was OK. However, maps of period Rome and a detailed map of period North Africa would have been useful. Use of tables and charts, was restricted to only genealogies. The photographs provided were good. Although, the majority were either architectural of churches and cathedrals or of period art.
Note the book was footnoted. Quotations were in four languages. I wish my Greek were better? I felt that Norwich unsuccessfully straddled the popular and academic history with his annotations, comments on historical sources, and bibliography.
The book was 50-years old. It was written in the old-style of history that emphasizes personalities. The lives and actions of men and sometimes women drove the narrative. As it is, it was mostly the story of Medieval Italian Celebrities. Modern, general histories tend to expand beyond just personalities. Personalities are still important. Although, absent critical circumstances, men and women don’t change history by their lonesome. Its men and women, technologies, organizations and external events that effect history. By concentrating on the “Who” aspect of history, Norwich made this book suitable only as an adjunct work for a proper history of the Norman's in Italy and Sicily. In addition, there is a certain amount of cultural dissonance to be found in the narrative for a modern reader.
This was an interesting story. I personally thought the first half (The Normans in the South) was a better rags to riches read. It was a story of a family that started out strong with nothing, founded an unusual kingdom in the middle ages for its time, but eventually lost everything by not being able to cope with the internal and geopolitics over three generations.
August 13, 2015
Nasty, brutish and tall--that was the Normans. They were the original "men who came to dinner" but in their case, thugs who came to dinner fits better. They were descendants of the Vikings but, if we are to believe the author, traded their boats for horses and headed south to make their fortune. They arrived in Italy by chance after a pilgrimage and took over. Then conquered Sicily and a part of north Africa. They even tried for Constantinople.
They took the best and squabbled (that means had wars, killed, raped, pillaged, destroyed whole towns--all the things that everyone was doing those days). They squabbled among themselves, with the Germans from the Holy Roman (some say evil northern) Empire, with the Popes and anti-Popes for a century or so. Finally a Norman King had no sons after foolishly marrying off his daughter to the Emperor and pffft, the Emperor took over. The Normans were finished as Kings (in Sicily and Italy; they still had England).
The book tells the story in many, many pages. But is a big story with many characters, that is fine. The Normans were not kind to us readers in that half seem to be named Roger, but there are charts to help. And maps with all the obscure city names. This is the perfect nighttime book, just interesting enough to pick up but not so interesting that you cannot put it down at a decent hour and get some sleep. Also, since the Normans had a campaign every year where some were killed and some were not, you can lose you place and not notice too much.
The author's voice keeps the book alive. It is not just one damned thing after another. Norwich applauds bravery and all the "good" qualities of his fighters. He would have made a great fighting Pope, with all the right values for those years. He evaluates the major characters when they die. William the Bad was not really so bad and his son William the Good was just lucky.
I do recommend this book. I learned much. How those Normans were not only in England but also in Sicily. Who would have thought?
They took the best and squabbled (that means had wars, killed, raped, pillaged, destroyed whole towns--all the things that everyone was doing those days). They squabbled among themselves, with the Germans from the Holy Roman (some say evil northern) Empire, with the Popes and anti-Popes for a century or so. Finally a Norman King had no sons after foolishly marrying off his daughter to the Emperor and pffft, the Emperor took over. The Normans were finished as Kings (in Sicily and Italy; they still had England).
The book tells the story in many, many pages. But is a big story with many characters, that is fine. The Normans were not kind to us readers in that half seem to be named Roger, but there are charts to help. And maps with all the obscure city names. This is the perfect nighttime book, just interesting enough to pick up but not so interesting that you cannot put it down at a decent hour and get some sleep. Also, since the Normans had a campaign every year where some were killed and some were not, you can lose you place and not notice too much.
The author's voice keeps the book alive. It is not just one damned thing after another. Norwich applauds bravery and all the "good" qualities of his fighters. He would have made a great fighting Pope, with all the right values for those years. He evaluates the major characters when they die. William the Bad was not really so bad and his son William the Good was just lucky.
I do recommend this book. I learned much. How those Normans were not only in England but also in Sicily. Who would have thought?
August 15, 2015
Norwich writes of three chapters in the epic of the Norman domination of South Italy: (1) the 1043 assembly of pioneer Norman barons at Melfi when the early arrivees "divided their conquered territories into the twelve counties of Apulia" (p. 321); (2) when Robert Guiscard had received his three duchies from Pope Nicholas II; and (3) when Robert's younger step-brother, Roger, gathered his vassals ("all the bishops, abbots and counts of Apulia and Calabria to a solemn Court at Melfi" (p. 320) to have them swear a great oath both to him but also to his sons and to a general peace to uphold order and justice (in short, establishing a penal code). Thus was his son, Roger II, able to crown himself King of Sicily on Christmas Day, 1130. If the above is meaningless to you, it will not be after reading this fascinating, rewarding volume that fills in a gap of European history usually neglected in today's university curricula.
The story of the Normans in Sicily is one of those periods in history that was unusually rich in events and personalities (not that the two are easily distinguishable), but in the hands of author John Julius Norwich, the tale is a page-turner overflowing with tales of deceit, treachery, cunning, diplomacy and the machinations of 11-12C European history. This work is a true historical epic--so colourful, so rich, and so laden with Norwich's wit and wry phrasing that it has rightfully long been regarded as one of the great tomes on Sicily, which is far too narrow a category for this work. Clearly it is 'must' reading for anyone interested in European or Mediterranean history, or for that matter, the Normans (successors of the Vikings of the north who settled in France ['Normandy'] and then made world history in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings), the Crusades, the Papacy, Venice .... Maps and a family tree are necessities and this volume includes both, plus the added treasure of a list of Norman ruins that can still be seen in Sicily today.
The book is hard to find; none of the libraries I searched in had a copy (which I eventually found in the library of a well-travelled friend) but worth the search. Now to find a copy of his History of Venice.
The story of the Normans in Sicily is one of those periods in history that was unusually rich in events and personalities (not that the two are easily distinguishable), but in the hands of author John Julius Norwich, the tale is a page-turner overflowing with tales of deceit, treachery, cunning, diplomacy and the machinations of 11-12C European history. This work is a true historical epic--so colourful, so rich, and so laden with Norwich's wit and wry phrasing that it has rightfully long been regarded as one of the great tomes on Sicily, which is far too narrow a category for this work. Clearly it is 'must' reading for anyone interested in European or Mediterranean history, or for that matter, the Normans (successors of the Vikings of the north who settled in France ['Normandy'] and then made world history in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings), the Crusades, the Papacy, Venice .... Maps and a family tree are necessities and this volume includes both, plus the added treasure of a list of Norman ruins that can still be seen in Sicily today.
The book is hard to find; none of the libraries I searched in had a copy (which I eventually found in the library of a well-travelled friend) but worth the search. Now to find a copy of his History of Venice.
June 1, 2015
In the early years of the 11th century a number of landless Norman knights made their way south into Italy working as mercenaries, at least that's what they told the nobility who hired them. In fact, the Normans were always working for their own benefit and over the years managed to supplant all the rulers of southern Italy and Sicily - a lengthy list including Lombards, Byzantine Greeks, the German emperor, and the Saracen rulers of Sicily. These dynamic and colorful adventurers had an incredible run of success for many years and their fascinating stories are told in this book. My favorite characters were Robert Guiscard, his brother Roger, and Roger's son, also called Roger. No one would believe what they accomplished if you tried to make it up in a novel.
This lengthy 800 page book was a pleasure to read. The author's perceptive descriptions of the people and places he is writing about make them come to life in a way that only the best historians can do. I've had to add Sicily to my lift of places to visit because of it. I cannot recommend this highly enough for those with an interest in this period. The author has a new book, a history of Sicily, coming out in the US in July. This book will be a good lead in for it.
This lengthy 800 page book was a pleasure to read. The author's perceptive descriptions of the people and places he is writing about make them come to life in a way that only the best historians can do. I've had to add Sicily to my lift of places to visit because of it. I cannot recommend this highly enough for those with an interest in this period. The author has a new book, a history of Sicily, coming out in the US in July. This book will be a good lead in for it.
August 30, 2014
This is a wonderfully written narrative history of the Norman kingdoms in Sicily. It is an absolutely essentially book for any one who is interested in Crusades as it places the wars conducted by the Normans in the Middle East in the proper historical context of the broader Norman drive to expand and acquire new territories.
Remember this book can never be superseded. The author has read all the relevant source documents. Nothing is hidden in the archives awaiting an eventual release. Any new book on the topic will in all probability be inferior to this admirable work by a great historian.
Remember this book can never be superseded. The author has read all the relevant source documents. Nothing is hidden in the archives awaiting an eventual release. Any new book on the topic will in all probability be inferior to this admirable work by a great historian.
November 3, 2007
This is detailed history of the 1100s in Sicily! It's beautifully written and makes one love history just for the sake of it (as well as being important to compare to what's going on today!).
July 5, 2021
Popular history account of the period, often taking sides and prioritising anecdote over analysis.
Although advertised as an easy introduction to the period I didn't actually find it that easy to follow. Medieval nobles were often referred to by multiple names: a family name; a place name and a sobriquet / nom de guerre. JJN delights in using all of the names interchangeably. This technique adds colour but it doesn't make it easy for a reader unfamiliar with the personages.
I think the period is exciting enough already without needing to spice it up with colourful prose.
Although advertised as an easy introduction to the period I didn't actually find it that easy to follow. Medieval nobles were often referred to by multiple names: a family name; a place name and a sobriquet / nom de guerre. JJN delights in using all of the names interchangeably. This technique adds colour but it doesn't make it easy for a reader unfamiliar with the personages.
I think the period is exciting enough already without needing to spice it up with colourful prose.
March 17, 2017
Not his best but it was one of his early books. dDeals with a bit of history that is not well know in Brittan, what else the Norman's were doing about 1066 besides conquering southern Italy and Scicily. Read the book and wonder if there was ever any doubt. The Norman's were the big boys. Delivered in a dead pan mater of fact way make it hard sometimes to scale the importance of events, interesting all the same.
August 12, 2018
If you like history and as a bonus are planning to visit Sicilly, this is a mustread. A wonderful narrative style that draws you in to one of the key periods that shapes the island even today. Your visits to Monreale and other Norman castles and citadels will be enriched by this details filled but easily digestible masterpiece.
January 17, 2018
It's a great insight to the little known history (to me) of southern Italy. But, as any medieval history it is dense. All in all Norwich makes the ride easy and sometimes funny!
February 22, 2018
Captivating
July 27, 2020
The de Hauteville family has to be one of the most interesting of this period. I knew basically nothing of them or Sicily for that matter.
November 28, 2022
While far from being an unbiased narrative, it is wildly entertaining and a fun read, serving as an excellent source if one is interested in learning about the Normans.
May 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book as it is a rich history I had little knowledge of before reading this great book. Growing up in England, I of course was aware of the Norman conquest, but had no idea there was another Norman conquest going on around the same time - in southern Italy. It also brings in the battle the Normans had a string of enemies at the time, the Saracens (form north Africa), the Byzantines, the Papal states, the Lombards, the numerous raids form German kings over the years and among themselves. Quite a lot what going on and Norwich goes into great detail, but keeps the pace of the book ticking over at a good pace over the 900 pages.
May 2, 2024
John Julius Norwich's two-volume series on the Norman conquest and kingdom in southern Italy is a captivating narrative through a lesser-known yet incredibly significant chapter of history.
Norwich's books are not only informative but also immensely enjoyable to read. His engaging prose and attention to detail make the complex historical events accessible to a wide audience. Whether one is a history enthusiast or a traveler planning to explore Sicily, these volumes are indispensable companions, providing valuable insights into the Norman legacy in southern Italy.
In "The Normans in the South," Norwich expertly traces the rise of Norman power in the region, highlighting their evolution from humble pilgrims to formidable conquerors. By contextualizing their exploits, Norwich sheds light on the Norman role in shaping the political landscape of southern Italy.
In "The Kingdom in the Sun," Norwich delves deeper into the complexities of Norman rule, exploring their interactions with the diverse communities of southern Italy, including Muslims, Greeks, and Italians. This volume expertly navigates the intricate webs of diplomacy, warfare, and cultural exchange that characterized Norman governance in the region. Moreover, Norwich skillfully elucidates the Norman engagement in Mediterranean geopolitics, from conflicts with the Byzantine Empire to participation in the Crusades and expansion into Northern Africa. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, he brings to life a period of history marked by both triumphs and challenges, offering readers a comprehensive and engrossing narrative.
Norwich's books are not only informative but also immensely enjoyable to read. His engaging prose and attention to detail make the complex historical events accessible to a wide audience. Whether one is a history enthusiast or a traveler planning to explore Sicily, these volumes are indispensable companions, providing valuable insights into the Norman legacy in southern Italy.
In "The Normans in the South," Norwich expertly traces the rise of Norman power in the region, highlighting their evolution from humble pilgrims to formidable conquerors. By contextualizing their exploits, Norwich sheds light on the Norman role in shaping the political landscape of southern Italy.
In "The Kingdom in the Sun," Norwich delves deeper into the complexities of Norman rule, exploring their interactions with the diverse communities of southern Italy, including Muslims, Greeks, and Italians. This volume expertly navigates the intricate webs of diplomacy, warfare, and cultural exchange that characterized Norman governance in the region. Moreover, Norwich skillfully elucidates the Norman engagement in Mediterranean geopolitics, from conflicts with the Byzantine Empire to participation in the Crusades and expansion into Northern Africa. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous research, he brings to life a period of history marked by both triumphs and challenges, offering readers a comprehensive and engrossing narrative.
December 19, 2015
La historia de como un puñado de mercenarios normandos se abrieron camino en la convulsa Italia medieval, enfrentándose a papas y emperadores, hasta fundar el reino de Sicilia, de cómo éste se convirtió en uno de los grandes poderes de la época, y su decadencia y pérdida de independencia.
Una historia con un comienzo fascinante, pero que pierde ritmo una vez que los antiguos mercenarios se hacen con el control del sur de Italia. La conquista de la isla de Sicilia acaba haciéndose pesada, y aunque una vez terminada ésta la narración retoma algo de interés no llega a enganchar como en su primera parte.
La culpa de esta falta de ritmo puede atribuirse tanto a la desaparición de una figura tan carismática como Roberto Guiscardo como a una cierta falta de brío en la escritura de Norwich, lejos del nervio que muestra en Historia De Venecia o Breve Historia De Bizancio/ A Short History of Byzamtium, temas donde se le nota bastante más cómodo.
Una historia con un comienzo fascinante, pero que pierde ritmo una vez que los antiguos mercenarios se hacen con el control del sur de Italia. La conquista de la isla de Sicilia acaba haciéndose pesada, y aunque una vez terminada ésta la narración retoma algo de interés no llega a enganchar como en su primera parte.
La culpa de esta falta de ritmo puede atribuirse tanto a la desaparición de una figura tan carismática como Roberto Guiscardo como a una cierta falta de brío en la escritura de Norwich, lejos del nervio que muestra en Historia De Venecia o Breve Historia De Bizancio/ A Short History of Byzamtium, temas donde se le nota bastante más cómodo.
October 29, 2011
Everyone talks about the Normans in Britain - all old William's fault - fewer talk about the Norman Kingdoms in Palestine and Cyprus and fewer still remember that between the Greek and Roman remains and those of the Arabs and the destructions by Mount Etna, there was a relatively brief but brilliant flowering of Norman culture on Europe's most African island. And of course the fusions that happened there came back north to influence Norman life as far away as Durham. JJN again has the knack of the British historian of making history eminently readable and fun as well as informative.
June 23, 2012
I read this a while ago and really enjoyed it. I can't remember how I came across it but it introduced me to an area of history I knew absolutely nothing about - I didn't know the Normans ever went to Italy. I found it fascinating.
December 9, 2014
Norwich is an excellent historian and a natural born story-teller. This book is 3 inches thick, but Norwich kept my interest all the way through.
March 17, 2014
Loved the book and would have given it a five but the font is tiny. Took me forever to read and had multiple headaches.
December 3, 2014
Norwich's history of a kingdom we mostly never learned about; the Normans in southern Italy, Sicily & the Levant. A great history well told of Europe's most multi-cultural Middle Age kingdom.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews