The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily [Paperback]

Gordon S. Brown (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Retired ambassador and diplomat Gordon S. Brown lives in Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (January 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786414723
• ISBN-13: 978-0786414727
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #411,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

An author and retired diplomat, Gordon Brown has written a number of historical works, including "The Captain Who Burned his Ships", and "Incidental Architect," both about personalities of early Washington DC; "Toussaint's Clause: The Founding Fathers and The Haitian Revolution", and "The Norman Invasion of Southern Italy and Sicily." During a 35-year career in the US Foreign Service he was ambassador to Mauritania 1991-94, Political Advisor to General Schwarzkopf during the first Gulf War, and Director of Arab Gulf Affairs in the State Department.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn about the "other Norman Conquest", May 24, 2004

By 

Michael Calingaert (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily (Paperback)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book., June 18, 2005

By 

Conquistador (Montreal, Québec) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Political History of the Norman Conquest, August 21, 2011

By 

Daniel Weitz "Retired Historian" (Hilton Head South Carolina & Princeton Junction New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily (Kindle Edition)

This is an excellent book written with great clarity by a non-expert. Although the author only deals with the political aspects of the Norman conquest of the region, he writes in such a way as to make the major characters of this period come alive. He ignores the social and cultural aspects (which are fascinating of themselves), but in his own area he is outstanding as he explains the shifting politics of the region. He argues that the Norman superiority on the battlefield was not just due to their mounted charge but the oft ignored fact that they exhibited great discipline on the battlefield with the ability to make difficult tactical shifts of bodies of knights.
The book has very good footnotes, an excellent bibliography, and maps that can even be read on the kindle.