the great sea a human history of the mediterranean

I'm tempted not to put it on the shelf, but to keep it at hand to be referred back to frequently. Abulafia's style of narative requires patience from the reader, more akin to Noel Malcolm's forensic accounting (see Bosnia: A Short History ), than to David Stuttard's filmic reenactment (see Parthenon: Power and Politics on the Acropolis ), both of which I admire greatly. I have some sympathy with the reviewer who found this such a big read that it had to be broken down into many short installments fortunately, Abulafia has taken the care to make it just so accessible, and I too took my time over it well over a year, just a little at a time. The truth is that any historian must chart a personal course, and make a convincing case for it. I discovered none, and I fear that those comments speak more of the sensitivities of the reviewers than of the preoccupations of the author. It's disappointing to note reviews signalling a partiality in this work. They include many other works of history, whether political, religious or natural, and the author also recommends a couple of cookbooks. Its scope is best illustrated by the count of over 130 pages of references, and it has undoubtedly prompted me to read some of its sources.

The publishers' description tells no lies, as The Great Sea does all it claims, and with admirable thoroughness. Here you have it.Īnd it's got something for everyone. A friend asked me recently what might persuade me to award five stars (not unheard of, but quite unusual).

The great sea a human history of the mediterranean