Jeremy DummettSyracuse, City of Legends: A Glory of Sicily

A must-read for anyone visiting the east coast of Sicily or wanting to know about its Hellenic past, as Syracuse was the most important of the city states on the island and played a pivotal role in events affecting its neighbour cities, though the book covers the history of Syracuse up to the present day. Syracuse unwillingly played a central role in determining the outcome of the Peloponnesian wars, and was a frequent target of terrifying attempts at conquest by pretty much everyone else in the period, including Carthage and Rome, and was also ravaged by tyrannies. The story of how it muddled through/heroically held its own through these - and also thrived culturally in a couple of periods of great government - is gripping, particularly as the cast list is A-list, and well-known anecdotes such as that of the sword of Damocles and how Archimedes met his death (what a guy!) are part of the main plot. It will certainly make you want to know more, and visit the locations, scrutinising each rock and street for lost evidence of the past. Good plates and several maps, and the quality of the pages means my copy still looks great. The last 40 pages of the book are set out as a commentary on the main monuments and sites, and there is a very useful timeline and good index.

Excellent, I am travelling to Syracuse later this year and was fascinated with it's history - in particular the siege by the Romans where Archimedes employed many tricks - such as burning the Roman galley's using the sun and mirrors - very enjoyable.

I am a published author and realize how much work Mr. Dummett must have put into this book. For the last three years, I have done extensive research for a novel that included both the historical and modern Syracuse. I have full access to the libraries at UC Berkeley and Stanford University, as well as online sources, and can say that I have not found a book about Syracuse, in English, nearly as good as this one. I also made a research trip to Syracuse. I wish I had had this book both for background research and for my trip. But even late in the game, I read it with pleasure. Highly recommended.

This is a well written and eminently readable book. It is particularly strong on the Greek history of Syracuse and Sicily. Post Roman history is rather condensed, even sketchy, perhaps reflecting the long and gradual decline in the influence and importance of Syracuse as a city. I have not yet been to Syracuse but I feel that this book has provided a good introduction to the city, its history and its sites.

A fairly dry but nevertheless informative history of an extraordinary city

This book should be subtitled a "concise military history". It is less about Syracuse and more about one aspect only, the recorded campaigns fought to, for, from and around Syracuse. Whilst interesting from one point of view it is definitely not about Syracuse as a city of legends. It beggars belief that the entire Baroque period of Syracuse, which indelibly shapes the appearance of the city is given one single paragraph, whereas military campaigns by the Knights of Malta (who were in the city for one year before moving to Malta) are given pages. The book could have been written by anyone with a set of penguin classics, as the scope of the history is limited to what is found in a high street book store. Lazy and perfunctory. I admit that in historical terms not much of importance happened in Syracuse after the Arab assault, but history is physical things like buildings and culture, not just battles. What about a bit of the urban history, how the 19th century city expanded and was planned, how the archeological discoveries impacted upon the way the city rediscovered itself? These are of as much interest about the city as massacres.I only give it three star due its being written with a generally deft touch.

My only visit to Sicily was in the early 1960s. I wanted to get to Syracuse, but I reached only Taormina and Catania. Now I feel I've made it. Jeremy Dummett's book really brings the city to life, all 2700+ years of it. Part I combines scholarly history with the page turning characteristics of a first-class thriller. Part II gives concise and clear descriptions of the principal monuments of Syracuse. There are excellent maps and illustrations throughout.Throughout the book we are treated to fascinating detail: of battles and engines of war, of ships and sieges and above all of the doings and foibles of the various rulers of the city, benevolent and tyrannical. All in all a "must take" on your next trip to Sicily and Syracuse. If you weren't planning to go, read the book and you will.

I went to Sicily for the first time last September and was surprised by it. I was fascinated by what I saw, but it wasn't quite what I had expected and I didn't know how to interpret it. Before I go back, I am doing some research, so I can penetrate the surface of this extraordinary place, and a friend recommended I read Syracuse, City of Legends.The book sheds light on many aspects not only of the city (which I am planning to visit on the strength of reading this), but also of the whole island. Understanding the evolution of Syracuse and Sicily, seeing it in its historical context, will allow me to know and appreciate what I am looking at. It will also help me to feel more at home and part of the scene rather than being just a tourist.

I am a published author and realize how much work Mr. Dummett must have put into this book. For the last three years, I have done extensive research for a novel that included both the historical and modern Syracuse. I have full access to the libraries at UC Berkeley and Stanford University, as well as online sources, and can say that I have not found a book about Syracuse, in English, nearly as good as this one. I also made a research trip to Syracuse. I wish I had had this book both for background research and for my trip. But even late in the game, I read it with pleasure. Highly recommended.

As someone who not only loved Siracusa (modern name for Syracuse) when I visited Sicily a couple of years ago and also as the author of a forthcoming book set in ancient Syracuse, I have long searched for more information about this wonderful and underrated city. This book is what I had been searching for. I can recommend it not only to those who plan to visit Sicily but also to anyone interested in the history of the Mediterraneans civilizations. Well written and carefully researched.

Very informative and well written. Not overly dry or long for a history book. I learned so much about the most interesting history of Syracuse. To me, it is a must for anyone going to Syracuse, and if you are by passing Syracuse on your trip it Sicily, this will make you want to go there.

The book quotes a lot of ancient sources, which is good, but there is not much interpretation of them. A better overview of Syracuse's ancient history is given in Finley's 'Ancient Sicily to the Arab Conquest'. There is not much on the post ancient history of Syracuse, not sure if this is because there is an absence of sources or if the sources are in Italian.

Excellent book that gets the balance between being a travel guide and a detailed account of Sicily's long history, about right. The book inspires one to go an experience the special charms of this city.