Southern Close-ups and the Young

Abstract

Sicily has a fantastically elaborate and varied history; wave after wave of civilisation has passed over the island. Yet until the present its history has more often than not been the history of decline. This is perhaps the reason for the evil traditions of Sicily; the Sicilians might indeed be termed an anti-social society, and in so far as their habits have spilt over into the mainland this has been deplorable. For Sicily is like an evil parody of Italian society, or rather it was so until the economic miracle shook Sicily to its pagan foundations too.