Fantastic coverage of the fascist period of Italy

This book provides a close-to-comprehensive (more on this later) look at how fascism rose to power in Italy. It ranges from the early 1900s (with some references to the late 1800s, all the way up to present day, with the core of the book focusing from around 1914 to about 1947/the late 40s. It describes in vivid detail the atrocities of acts committed by truly vile individuals, to a shocking degree. The part covering Mussolini's death and the following days is particularly graphic. It debunks many myths and excuses passed around about the supposed light touch of fascism in the period, and details the rapid and total decimation of opposition to Mussolini's rise to power in the early days of his rule and the preceding period.

Direct quotes, eye-witness accounts, related literature, references to photographs and footage and even memories of the author's own ancestors form an objective view of the period.

My only criticisms are as follows:

1) In the first part of the book, we are told on numerous occasions how the liberal apparatus, state, government etc. of Italy at the time was either nearly or totally passive in the face of clear aggression from fascist forces, right up until an attempt to declare martial law. Police forces let people get away with literal murder, looked on while brutal beatings took place (inside places as public as Milan's galleria). The author never once attempts to explains exactly why the state and authorities were so non-interventionist. Why did a whole series of liberal prime ministers ignore the ransacking if newspaper offices, beatings in public places, murders, etc.? It's never explained. It's not like these officials were fascist themselves, so why?

2) While overall it's told quite well, in many places the writing isn't smooth, is quite clunky, with multiple repetitions and poorly structured phrases. In some places it reads very professionally, while in others it appears a bit amateur.

3) The narrator speaks very clearly and is a good fit, but frequently commits jarring mistakes with intonation. He'll read the middle of a sentence like it's the end, and sometimes use long pauses. He often puts intonation and emphasis in entirely the wrong place.

Despite this, overall I highly recommend this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

So sanctimonious - and so, so boring.

I have really tried to listen to this, getting to about 25% on each occasion before giving up.

I quickly reckoned that there would be no pleasure in it, what with the fussy, sanctimonious, repetitive writing and the performance which manages - amazingly - to be exaggerated and wooden at the same time: it both sucks and blows.

After my second attempt I realised that there was no profit of knowledge or understanding to be had from it either. You have to be awake for that.

My experience of this book is that it's just an endless round of prolix, repetitive condemnation of squadrista violence (we already know, especially after the first dozen) interspersed with little equivocations about the behaviour of the socialists, who were not one single jot better than the fascists, just less successful. A pox on them both.

I read and listen to quite a lot of history books, I'm especially interested in the history of Italy. My advice is to buy something else, unless you actually want to die of boredom.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A brilliant description of a truly awful period.

I went to Salo with my Italian girlfriend in the 1980s not knowing anything about it. She whispered to me that the people near us were old fascists paying homage. This came back to me over the years as it was such a strange place. On reading this book the whole significance of it and what it symbolised was revealed. At times, the descriptions of the cruelty and brutality were nauseating but necessary for all of us to know about. While the Germans have all been made to pay penance for what happened under Hitler - even though the younger generations were not even born then - the Italians seem to have evaded any sense of guilt or shame. In a sense, this is cowardly and certainly shameful. I recall an Italian neighbour once, out of the blue, telling me of seeing his fellow soldiers massacre Yugoslavians during the war. Once again, this didn’t lead me to question the “truth” about Italy in the 20s, 30s and during the war. However, this wonderful book reveals all, and it paints much of Italy being quite savage with a truly genocidal behaviour toward Libyans, Ethiopians and others. Lastly, the narration is superb with, for once, someone who can actually pronounce the Italian words properly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Violent and Dark Era in Italy.

Well written and read book which explains how fascism came to be in Italy during the early years of twenty century. I recommend anyone who is interested in the modern history of Italy to listen to this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

brilliant

The story of fascism has been too often mellowed down in the name of "reconciliation". Every Italian should read this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

interesting in the current context

interesting listen especially now (far right just won the Italian election). An great, in depth look at the rise of Fascism and how it all came apart for Mussolini.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

An indictment of Fascism

Well read, this book provides a clear insight about the real nature of Fascism. A welcome addition.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!