Both Interesting and Entertaining
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John Julius Norwich is an historian with several books on the subject behind him. He is also a travel writer and television personality. His correct title is John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich but he is better known as John Julius Norwich. His writing style is clear, concise and to the point and this makes his books both interesting and entertaining.
The book is an interesting guide to the history of the Mediterranean, a sea that gave birth to so many of the ancient civilisations that bordered its shores. The story is told with the energy and enthusiasm that can only come from someone who is knowledgeable and loves the subjects that they write about.
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THE MIDDLE SEA - JOHN JULIUS NORWICH
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I'll be honest; I preferred Braudel's `The Mediterranean' and bought this solely on my enjoyment of Norwich's style. The former concentrates on a smaller time frame (The reign of the Hapsburg king Philip II) but looks at how geography, geology, topography have affected the lives of its inhabitants. The latter doing what the author does best concentrates more on personality zooming from ancient Greece to (curiously) Lawrence of Arabia
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Entertaining history
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This book is certainly an invaluable guide to the history of the Mediterranean. It is certainly very useful to read before going on holiday to the area (as millions of Brits do each year).
The book starts at a fast pace and, as one of the other reviewers points out, deals with the entire Roman period (Republic and Empire) in less than 100 pages. The style of writing overall is fast and entertaining and keeps the reader interested. One point has been deducted because I feel the middle of the book does become a bit over-involved in the detail of the dynastic goings on in and between various royal families and nobles in the Middle Ages which is hard to follow. Having said that the beginning and end thirds of the book are much easier to follow and whilst the middle is not as good it still contain many amusing episodes.
Overall a well worth reading history of this important sea which is important not only to the countries immediately bordering it but also to many others around Europe and indeed the whole world.
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Highly Recommended from a highly recommendable author
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I have written reviews on other JJN works; this is yet another example of history writing at its best. Although the author tends to speed past the aspects of history he clearly hasnt any desire to tell (ie the Roman Empire in its heyday, but he does apologise for it)the rest of the writing is nevertheless highly entertaining while informative at the same time. An essential history.
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Mare Nostrum
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John Julius Norwich is an outstanding and entertaining author. This book provided me with numerous hours of pleasure and is crammed with interesting and relevant facts. If I have a criticism it is that the early sections, up to the fall of Constantinople, are the best and most riveting. The later sections are still good and for me covered a period of history I was not familiar with. If you are travelling to the mediterranean then this will provide an excellent thought provoking companion.
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