Reviews for Culture and political economy in western Sicily

The average rating for Culture and political economy in western Sicily based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-08-04 00:00:00 James Devoll I have to say that I picked up this book after visiting Taormina, Sicily.I loved the book-especially her insight on the people of Sicily. She could not have given a better discription of this fabulous Island and just how wonderful and kind the Sicilians truly are. I sent a copy of the book to my best girlfriend, who traveled with me on all my trips to Italy; and she loved the book, also. In 2005 we decided to take another trip to Sicily and see if we could actually find Casa Cusini in Taormina. We found it and rang the doorbell hoping that Daphne Phelps was still alive and could sign our books. To our amazement the housekeeper, a kind, very old man, came walking down the stairs and in our limited Italian told us that Daphne was sleeping; but if we left our books, he would have her sign them, and we could pick them up the next morning. We left our books and returned the next day; the books were signed by Daphne Phelps who was 94 years old at the time. It was a wonderful time, except we really did want to actually see Casa Cusini- but we couldn't. She passed away in November of 2005- so, we felt so blessed that we took the trip in early 2005. She was an amazing woman...and wrote a fabulous book. Taormina is heaven on earth...that is why she never left.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-11-25 00:00:00 Damar b Amarapit In general people know two things about Sicily - both of them alarming: Etna and the Mafia. Ahh, yes, but thankfully this book taught me so much more about the island few know. It is in Sicily where Zeus trapped Typhon the monster, and they say you can still hear his rage whenever Mount Etna lets loose. Conquered by every Tom, Dick, and Harry through the ages, Sicily has maintained its own identity, albeit one heavily influenced by Mafioso lore. But when Daphne Phelps had to take over the gorgeous villa her uncle had built, she found a dry, poverty-stricken place filled with myths and superstition. It is her remembrances of her famous house and equally famous guests that make this book a winner. Each chapter focuses on a specific person or event and they really seemed to build to the best passages as the end came near. Caitlin Thomas and Bertrand Russell roll through, but the best is saved for Henry Faulkner and his menagerie of cats, dogs, goats, and ducks. Wherever had these three (Tennessee Williams-Ezra Pound-Henry Faulkner) met? Could it have been in a mental hospital? It seemed likely. Phelps writes in a dry style and her adventures with the local authorities are enlightening. When she travels to Kentucky to visit Faulkner, for instance, she discovers the mountain dialect and states that Shakespeare would have felt at home, given the language had not been altered in centuries. The chapter on a poor local Sicilian widow brought tears to my eyes, just as the chapter on a theatrical butler made me laugh. I didn't want to finish the book, because I was enjoying it so much. As Sicily gets dragged into shopping malls and fast trains, much of what Phelps loved has disappeared, so the pages provide images of past simpler days. This isn't a travelogue or one of those snappy selfies about look-where-I-am-now. It's a story of a house, an uncle, and a loyal niece who stayed. Casa Cuseni is now a B&B, with that stunning view of Mount Etna. As a child, when I hated the world and felt that the world hated me, it was my dog in whom I confided - and he told me I was unique and wonderful. Book Season = Summer (reds and yellows and oranges)