Midnight in Sicily

Peter Robb''s journey into the dark heart of Sicily uses history painting literature and food to shed light on southern Italy''s legacy of political corruption and violent crime. Taking the trial of seven-times Prime Minister Giuli0 Andreottl for alleged Mafia involvement as Its starting point Midnight in Sicily is a classic of cultural history which combines searching investigation with an exuberant sensual appreciation of this beautiful and bewildering island. Reviews : ''One of the greatest charms of Robb''s book is his evident delight in southern Italy particularly ts food which is recorded with such intensity of memory that one can almost taste it. As an introduction to post-war Italy to the country as well as Its politics it can have few equals'' Caroline Moorehead Times Literary Supplement ''Robb writes brilliantly about the cycle of violence in southern Italy.This unclassifiable book melds po cs the mafia travel autobiography and serious cooking'' Andrew Taylor Independent ''I love this book. It left me in a sweet and sour mood of exultation grief despair and hope which lasted for manv davs'' - Peter Go dsworthv Australian Review of Books and ''One of the finest books on the Italian south. (Peter Robb''s) analysis is as riveting in its commentary on modern Sicilian life as The Leopard was to an earlier generation'' - The Economist