Women writing on female historical subjects is a particularly strong area of sales for history books An imaginative and entertaining account of Queen Constance's life and travels 'As Constance passes Rome, Naples and Salerno her story becomes genuinely moving... meticulous reconstruction' Spectator 'Simeti is a pleasingly honest travel writer... combines admirable erudition with imaginative licence... she writes feelingly... Her material may be fragmentary but the pieces glitter' Sunday Times On Persephone's Island has just been reissued and is currently featuring in many summer travel reading promotions

Mary Taylor Simeti is a writer and scholar. She lives on a farm outside Palermo with her Sicilian husband and two children.