Midnight in Sicily

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Summary: Excerpt from New York Times Book Review April 19, 1998
Review: "... Peter Robb presents a labyrinthine tale that brilliantly juxtaposes essays on food and art with historical accounts like that of the kidnapping and murder of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978. Robb, who lived in southern Italy for more than 14 years, interweaves his own experiences with extensive research and interviews, including ones with Leoluca Orlando, the former Mayor of Palermo, and the Mafia prosecutor Roberto Scarpinato. He offers an understanding of Mafia culture and its attitudes on violence as he depicts the cities they corrupted..."
By Sandra Mardenfeld

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Summary: Boston Globe, April 7 1998
Review: "'Midnight in Sicily' is a wonderful book and an outstanding debut for its author, Peter Robb,...who lived and taught in Italy for 14 years and didn't miss a thing. Robb's book provides a major service. Enthrallingly told...the book is also a celebration of natural beauty and plenty, of simple pleasures of table and companionship, of wearying work to change things fro mthe way they are to the way they ought to be, work undertaken not out of heroism but out of decency. If you want to find in Sicily a metaphor for the modern world, Robb's work will let you. Every reader of 'Midnight in Sicily' will be appalled, but also delighted and maybe even heartened and inspired.

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Summary: an utterly fascinating history of post-war Italy
Review: A compellingly written account of the terrifying post-war history of Italy, "Midnight in Sicily" offers a devistating overview of that sad and beautiful island's domination by the mafia and a corrupt 'mainstream' political establishment. No one interested in the history of modern Europe, and how the past -- indeed the ancient past -- effects contemporary life should miss this book.

Robb, like his fellow Aussie Robert Hughes, provides a balanced and loving appraisal of a latin culture. But unlike Hughes' "Barcelona", "Midnight in Sicily" offers a harrowing vision, along with a high body count, of a ancient society overcome by a very contemporary corruption. Along with Tomassi de Lampadusa's "The Loepard", "Midnight in Sicily" is a must-read for any traveler brave enough to venture south of Rome.

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Summary: Midnight in Sicily
Review: A must read for anyone visiting Sicily. It captures the atmosphere of the island, especially the menacing disorder that is often evident in the local life. The author's description of the role of the Mafia and the complicity of the government rings true, and the description of local cuisine and custom is skillfully woven into the story. That said, the author displays a political and social point of view which I do not always share, but I find his observations almost always worthwhile.

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Summary: Things keep changing in Sicily but nothing ever changes
Review: After "Midnight in Sicily" was published, Guilio Andreotti, the rotten ghost that haunts Peter Robb's excellent explication of Italy's postwar south, was acquitted in both the murder of a journalist and of mafia connections. Knowing this postscript before I picked up the book made the murders of all those investigators, police and journalists who dared to oppose Cosa Nostra all the more poignant. But this is much more than a mafia book. There is art, food, politics, all covered with an insightful and entertaining style. I was at first put off by the technique of italicizing quotations and words of emphasis, thinking it was overdone, but I found myself admiring the device about a third of the way through, and I believe that it is quite effective. This book has earned a place beside "The Leopard" and Barzini's "The Italians" in my library. One drawback of the paperback edition is that there are a number of dropped periods and some other typos that should have been caught.

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Summary: Entertaining, easy to read and informative
Review: An unusual but enjoyable book which is part travel volume, part essay on the corrosive culture of the Mafia, and part popular literary criticism. It is written from a distinctly personal point of view, and - dare one say this about an Australian? - there is an occasional hint of pretentiousness, particularly when he shares his thoughts about Sicilian food. But overall the approach works, which is more than one can say about many travel books. Together with di Lampedusa's "The Leopard", an excellent book to pass the time with if you are spending any time in Sicily.

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Summary: Magnifico!
Review: As a Brooklyn born, lifelong Mafia-logist, I am astounded by this extraordinary book. Signore Robb writes with passion and elegance about the food, the art, the landscape, and the manners and mores of Sicily. It is a grand book. Bravo! Goodonyer, mate!

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Summary: Signore Robb's book is sto bene
Review: Australian-based author Peter Robb has cut to the heart of Italian architecture, cuisine, culture and la cosa nostra (the mafia). His keen insights and lucid wit are evident throughout this masterpiece of the Italian and Sicilian panoramic landscape. In his often dangerous journeys into the depths of Italy and Sicily, his book illuminates light from the darkness of the mafia underworld and its historical hand-in-hand corruption with the government. Its the next best thing to being a tourist there, if one's courage can take them that far.

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Summary: Great Read, Unique Travel Writing
Review: Before I travelled to Sicily, I was looking for a book that would capture the culture of this Italian island. Other than DiLapedusa's "The Leopard" (fiction) I wasn't aware of and couldn't seem to find any other books on the island. I stumbled across this and was charmed from page one. This is really a little masterpiece of travel writing/journalism/history. Although I normally don't find time to read while travelling, I couldn't put this book down. Don't listen to any negative reviews, this book is superbly written, insighful and a very comprehensive text on Sicilian culture. It might be said that the focus is loosely Mafioso, but the author does an unmatched job at integrating history, food, and the intricasies of Sicilian society and culture. You'll be blown away. This one's for my library!

Rating:
Summary: Great Read, Unique Travel Writing
Review: Before I travelled to Sicily, I was looking for a book that would capture the culture of this Italian island. Other than DiLapedusa's "The Leopard" (fiction) I wasn't aware of and couldn't seem to find any other books on the island. I stumbled across this and was charmed from page one. This is really a little masterpiece of travel writing/journalism/history. Although I normally don't find time to read while travelling, I couldn't put this book down. Don't listen to any negative reviews, this book is superbly written, insighful and a very comprehensive text on Sicilian culture. It might be said that the focus is loosely Mafioso, but the author does an unmatched job at integrating history, food, and the intricasies of Sicilian society and culture. You'll be blown away. This one's for my library!