a great read...
An accessible account of the Norman occupation and settlement of southern Italy. Gordon does a fantastic job ensuring that this important slice of history and the story of the Hauteville's is highly readable and entertaining while academically sound.
Well written general guide
This short history is a well written general guide to the period. It provides a general program of events for anyone who wishes to study this particular episode of Italian or European history. The "other" Norman experiment in conquest and governance deserves more attention than it gets, especially in our current era of ethnic and relegious conflict. Useful and informative.
This is an excellent book.
This book is well written and interesting throughout. This is how history should be written, not dry and uninspirational but alive and dynamic - things happen in this book. No stagnant and uninteresting analysis of history here!
The topic of this book is the Norman conquest of the south of Italy, a subject that I did not know at all before I picked up this book. It gives you insight on the middle ages and debunks the traditional (and false) idea that Europe in the middle ages was a complete uncultured and chaotic place. The civilization founded by the Normans in the south of Italy was both advanced and thrived for many years.
Great stuff. Anyone with a bit of interest in history should find out about this little known epic undertaking by the Normans.
Learn about the "other Norman Conquest"
This is a fascinating account of how a group of Normans found their way to southern Italy at about the same time as another group was conquering England, and within half a century had prevailed over Lombards, Saracens, Byzantium, and the Papacy to establish themselves as the dominant power in the region. A little-known story, which should be of interest to history buffs, anyone wanting to know about Italy's past, and those wondering where blue-eyed Sicilians come from. Well-researched, but the scholarship does not get in the way of the text. Eminently readable.
(4 reviews)
