Reviews
Here are some reviews of Syracuse, City of Legends:
"Syracuse, on Sicily’s east coast, has much to live up to – Cicero described it as “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”. Settled in 733BC, it was Rome’s first province and played a key role in the development of Christianity in Sicily, but was largely devastated in 1693 by an earthquake. History aside, it is the intensely creative figures who peopled the city’s streets that bring this fascinating narrative alive. Archimedes, Plato and Caravaggio all called Syracuse home. This is a meticulously researched and beautifully written history, offering a vivid and entertaining journey around the city, linking the past with the many surviving sites from antiquity that can be seen today. The tone is erudite and intimate, and Dummett is especially good on the historical context of many of the monuments, placing them within a firmly human context, bringing to life one of the most engaging locations in the Mediterranean."
Clover Stroud, The Sunday Telegraph 25th April 2010
"For newcomers exploring Sicily for the first time, as well as for returning visitors, Jeremy Dummett's Syracuse, City of Legends is a welcome travelling companion whose enthusiasm is catching. Dummett offers a rich trove of information about its deep past, which he helpfully links to the places that can be visited today, including the more intimate places off the beaten path."
Judith Harris, author of Pompeii Awakened
"At last Syracuse is receiving the attention it deserves. Congratulations to Jeremy Dummett for his celebration of this Sicilian gem. Don't leave for Sicily without this guide."
Jordan Lancaster, author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Cultural History of Naples
"This meaty, satisfying book tells you everything you need to know to have an intense cultural experience in Siracusa. Mr Dummett's narrative history brings to life the Sicily of the centuries Before Christ, as the island attracted adventurers and entrepreneurs from different parts of the globe: 'the America of the ancient world'. Informative yet concise, the story continues through the arrival of Christianity in Sicily and the fate of Lucia, patron saint of Syracuse, and brings us - via the visit of Caravaggio to Syracuse, earthquakes, wars, the Risorgimento and the odd miracle - to the present day. The back section, describing the principal monuments, synthesises the history with what the modern traveller can actually see in Siracusa now.
Reading Syracuse, City of Legends before you go to Sicily will deepen and enrich your experience of the island, open your eyes to aspects of it you might not otherwise have understood and give you a sense of connection to Siracusa that can't be gained from a mere travel guide."
Georgina Kirk, author of www.italy-info.co.uk