Author: Dennis Hardy
Publisher: Blue Gecko Books
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 364
Format: Paperback
Genre: Non-Fiction
Source: Free Copy from Author
The Mediterranean is an urban sea. Some of the world's most famous cities are clustered in this remarkably compact area. They have extraordinary stories to tell.
From the earliest stirrings of civilization in the region to the Arab Spring these coastal cities have been on the frontline of change. Little has passed them by. Their histories are often measured in millennia, yet they remain highly topical in the modern world.
The Mediterranean is at one the world's most important cultural crossroads, a rich source of progress in many ways but also notoriously volatile. It is a part of the world where change itself is a by-word. In this modern odyssey, the reader is invited to trace the shoreline of the Mediterranean from its meeting with the Atlantic in the west to the Levant in the east; from the lands of southern Europe across the sea to the deserts of North Africa. (Goodreads Synopsis)
The Urban Sea is an interesting read that considers the history and legacy of some of the Mediterranean cities. The book is split into regions, each focusing on three cities with descriptions of their history, their influence and their place within the region.
The Urban Sea is a fascinating blend of travel guide and history book, illustrated with a number of black and white photographs that add life to each city description.
Some of the cities interested me more than others, but all are described in such a way that Hardy's passion for the subject really shines through.
This is a wonderful book for someone interested in the history and life of the Mediterranean who has been looking for a good place to start their reading.
Disclaimer: I know the author and received a copy of this book in return for advising him on its publication.
No comments:
Post a Comment