A Short History of Italy (476-1900) by Henry Dwight Sedgwick

(5 User reviews)   957
By Jason Bauer Posted on Jan 12, 2026
In Category - Satire
Sedgwick, Henry Dwight, 1861-1957 Sedgwick, Henry Dwight, 1861-1957
English
Ever wonder how Italy went from the fall of Rome to the country we know today? Henry Dwight Sedgwick's 'A Short History of Italy' is your answer. Forget dry textbooks—this feels like a guided tour through centuries of chaos, beauty, and genius. It's the story of a place that kept getting knocked down, from barbarian invasions to foreign empires, only to rise again through art, faith, and sheer stubbornness. If you think Italy's history is just pizza and the Renaissance, this book will show you the epic, messy, and utterly human drama that really shaped the peninsula. It’s surprisingly fast-paced and full of characters who feel more real than you'd expect from a history book.
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one of the United States. My whole is a large city in Europe. 120. My first is stationed near your heart, And serves to brace the mortal frame; Of young and old it forms a part, And to fair woman gives a name. Who builds a ship must it employ, To give it strength to stem the flood, And Adam felt no real joy Till in new form by him it stood. My second may be long or short, Or tight or loose, or wet or dry, Of cotton, silk, or woolen wrought, Of any texture, strength, or dye-- Be made of iron, gold, or steel, Of love or hate, of good or ill, May gently bind, or heavy feel, May give support, or rudely kill. My whole is formed by fashion, skill, and care, And what few ladies from their dress can spare. 121. How long would a ball be falling, from the top of a tower that was 400 feet high, to the earth? 122. Why are chairs like men? 123. The foot of a ladder 60 feet long remaining in the same place, the top will just reach a window 40 feet high on one side of the street, and another 30 feet high on the other side. How wide is the street? 124. There is a pile of cannon-balls, the ground tier of which contains 289 balls, and the top tier one ball. Require the whole number of balls in a pile. 125. [Illustration] 126. [Illustration] 127. What skillful housewife does not know When, where to place my first? When nicely done, it will not show; Conspicuous, it is worst. My second all the world must do, Either with head or hand, In different ways the same pursue, On water, or on land. My whole a picture is of life, Varied with good or ill, With bright or dull, with light or dark, Arranged with art and skill. 128. What is that which will make you catch cold--cure the cold--and pay the doctor's bill? 129. Why is a joke like a cocoa-nut? 130. When did Esau, the hairy man, lose his whiskers? 131. Why do postmasters deserve the execration of all true Americans? 132. Just equal are my head and tail, My middle slender as can be, Whether I stand on head or heel, 'Tis all the same to you or me. But if my head should be cut off, The matter's true, although 'tis strange, My head and body, severed thus, Immediately to nothing change. 133. If a loafer, smoking a cigar, sets fire to the brush on his upper lip, is it a case of spontaneous combustion? 134. liv sin transgre procur damn A ing ers ssion ed ation. dy Redeem pa purchas salv 135. [Illustration] 136. [Illustration] 137. [Illustration: What sailors dread. ] 138. I. Go wide o'er the world, And everywhere seek me-- In earth, sea, or air, Thou never shalt meet me! Go wide o'er the world-- I always am there-- Wherever thou roamest, In earth, sea, or air! II. Go speak to the woodland, And question of me-- Oh ne'er shall thou find me, With forest or tree! Go, speak to the woodland, I ever am there, And live in its whispers, Though lighter than air! III. Go, winnow the wave, And seek for my breath-- Ah, ocean and river, Reveal but my death! Go, winnow the wave, Tho' with winter it shiver-- There--there shalt thou find me, 'Mid ocean and river! IV. In whirlwinds I revel, Yet in zephyrs expire-- I flourish in warmth, And I perish in fire!...

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Henry Dwight Sedgwick takes us on a grand tour of over 1,400 years, starting with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The book isn't a list of dates and kings. Instead, it follows the life of the Italian peninsula itself. We see it fractured into warring city-states like Venice and Florence, conquered by outsiders, and unified by faith during the Middle Ages. The story builds through the explosive creativity of the Renaissance, the political chess games of the popes and princes, and finally, the messy, passionate fight in the 1800s to become one nation.

Why You Should Read It

Sedgwick writes with a clear affection for Italy, but he doesn't gloss over the gritty parts. What stuck with me was how he connects big historical forces to the people who lived through them. You get a sense of the Florentine banker's worry, the Venetian merchant's ambition, and the revolutionary's hope. He makes you see how art, money, power, and faith were constantly tangled together. It’s this human focus that stops the history from feeling distant.

Final Verdict

Perfect for travelers who want to look beyond the guidebook, or anyone curious about how Europe's most fascinating country came to be. It’s also a great fit if you usually find history intimidating—Sedgwick is a friendly and concise guide. You'll finish it with a much deeper understanding of why Italy, with all its glorious contradictions, is the way it is.



📜 Public Domain Content

This is a copyright-free edition. Access is open to everyone around the world.

Lisa Carter
1 month ago

I went into this with no expectations and it serves as a poignant reminder of the human condition. A perfect companion for a quiet weekend.

Kevin Baker
1 month ago

As part of my coursework, the material feels polished and professonally edited. This made complex ideas feel approachable.

Daniel White
3 months ago

Based on the reviews, I decided to try it and the technical accuracy of the content is spot on. An unexpectedly enjoyable experience.

Jessica Harris
4 months ago

I was pleasantly surprised because it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. An impressive piece of work.

Dorothy Adams
4 months ago

Given the topic, it creates a vivid world that you simply do not want to leave. An excellent read overall.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (5 User reviews )

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