Midnight in Sicily - Peter Robb

I picked up 'Midnight in Sicily' when I was considering a job offer in Palermo, if I go, I thought to myself, I would be better to know a little about the culture and history, and the front cover contained promises of secret revealed. So I bought the book, a little blind to it, thinking (perhaps a little naively) it would be a pleasant wander through a pleasant island, stopping off for a few mafia trials and judge-killings. (I hope that doesn't sound offensively frivolous.. ) Anyway, so back to the book, Robb is an Australian journalist who was based in Naples for a number of years, but went over to Sicily for the book (obviously.. from the ...  Read the complete review

Food, Travel, History, Politics and Crime are brought together in this feast of a book. Peter Robb, an Australian, tells of his visits to the unique island of Sicily. As an observer, he introduces you to its cuisine, tangled history, and the shadow of corruption. The charm of this book is that is does so many things, blending facets of life. The origins of pasta, and the significance of seafood, are as vital as a long heritage of foreign rule and intimidation. Sicily is a place of synthesis where Europe meets Africa, America and Asia. Robb uses the evidence obtained - often at a fatal price - by brave prosecutors to show how, in criminal affairs, the island ...  Read the complete review