This is a collection of essays and stories about Sicily, its history, mythology, and culture. The book includes discussions of pastoral poetry, with a focus on the works of Theocritus, as well as reflections on the beauty and elegance of bees. It also includes stories of Typhoeus, Polyphemus, Scylla and Charybdis, Glaucus and Scylla, Alpheus and Arethusa, the Sirens, and the rape of Proserpine. In this book, the author also discusses Italian and English pastoral literature, including the works of Tasso, Guarini, Spenser, Ben Jonson, Burns, and William Browne. Additionally, the book includes descriptions of the beauties and horrors of Mount Etna, and musings on various aspects of Sicilian culture, including its music, religion, and modern poetry.
