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The White Island
  • Published: 15 June 2005
  • ISBN: 9780552771894
  • Imprint: Black Swan
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $27.99
Categories:

The White Island



The extraordinary history of the Mediterranean's capital of hedonism - Ibiza

The White Island is, and always has been, a magnet for hedonists. Its history reads like a history of pleasure itself. It is also a story of invasions and migrations, of artists and conmen, of drop-outs and love-ins.

The Carthaginians established a cult to their goddess of sex there, and named the island after Bez, their god of dance. Roman centurions in need of a bit of down time between campaigns would go to Ibiza to get their kicks. And over the centuries, cultures around the Med have used the island either as a playground or a dump for the kind of people who didn't quite fit in back home, but who you'd probably quite like to meet at a party...

This is the history of Ibiza, the fantasy island, framed by one long, golden summer where anything can happen - and it usually does.

  • Published: 15 June 2005
  • ISBN: 9780552771894
  • Imprint: Black Swan
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $27.99
Categories:

About the author

Stephen Armstrong

Stephen Armstrong writes for The Sunday Times, Time Out, Wallpaper* and Men's Health. He also contributes to Radio 4's Front Row whenever they let him. In the past he has, like all young men, wanted to be a pilot, played in a band and thought about building bridges in Third World villages. He has also promoted one or two genuinely disastrous club nights.

Praise for The White Island

'An honest and amiable account of the oddball history of this little land of extraordinary sunsets'

Daily Telegraph

'A history of the ultimate party island which shows that the hedonists who flock there haven't always been the Union Jack-shorted variety'

Glamour

'Essential Summer reading. Keenly observed and sprinkled with a wealth of delicious titbits'

Q

'Lively, well-researched ramble through the island's frenetic history'

Time Out