Book Description
An eye-opening look at the architectural mark fascism left on one of the world's most beloved cities R ome was Mussolini's obsession. After coming to power as a result of his famed march on the city in 1922, he promised Italians that his fascist revolution would unite them as never before and make Italy a major power on the world stage. In the next two decades, he set about rebuilding Rome as the foremost site and symbol of the new fascist order. Through an ambitious program of demolition and construction, he sought to make Rome a capital that both embraced modernity while preserving and glorifying the city's ancient past. Building the new Rome put people to work; 'liberated' ancient monuments from cluttered surroundings; cleared slums; produced giant complexes for education, sports, and cinema; produced wide new boulevards and piazzas; and provided the regime with a showcase in which to assert the power and identity of fascism. This intriguing book reveals Mussolini's tremendous and lasting impact on the city to which millions flock each year. MARKETING - Print Advertising Campaign - Academic Marketing Campaign'
Customer Reviews:
pretentious buildings.......2007-06-11
Rome. The Eternal City. Was there something in its water that Mussolini drank? Painter tells of his maniacal obsession with leaving his mark on this city. With such a storied history, he wanted to add his indelible contributions. So we get a grand tour of Rome. From the 1920s to the present. With black and white photos showing buildings added or altered. Several of which still remain to this day.
There is a comic opera feel to the sheer pretentiousness of Mussolini's activities. He comes off as a bumptious oaf, preferring shallow facades to the reality of a second rate economy.
Book Description
With Mussolini Â's Italy, R.J.B. Bosworth—the foremost scholar on the subject writing in English—vividly brings to life the period in which Italians participated in one of the twentieth centuryÂ's most notorious political experiments. Il DuceÂ's Fascists were the original totalitarians, espousing a cult of violence and obedience that inspired many other dictatorships, HitlerÂ's first among them. But as Bosworth reveals, many Italians resisted its ideology, finding ways, ingenious and varied, to keep Fascism from taking hold as deeply as it did in Germany. A sweeping chronicle of struggle in terrible times, this is the definitive account of ItalyÂ's darkest hour.
Customer Reviews:
Well researched and analyzed work.......2007-08-26
Bosworth covers a broad topical spectrum, including the historic, social, and political conditions that fostered fascism in Italy; insights into its political doctrine vs. actual application; character studies on its principal figures; and contrasts of it to both Italian Liberalism and German Nazism.
Overall, this book provides a great critical analysis of one 20th century Italy's more enigmatic political movements.
Well-written, except for political commentary.......2007-07-29
Professor Bosworth puts together a well-balanced look at the development of Italy's Fascist Party and its subsequent takeover of Italy. While arguing that Mussolini was far from innocent, Bosworth does show that he was considerably less malignant than either Hitler or Stalin. For instance, Mussolini did not create anything approaching the horrors of Auschwitz. Moreover, he shows how, unlike those other 2 dictators, Mussolini never established a truly totalitarian state (despite his boasting to the contrary). For instance, the Catholic Church remained as a leading institution within Italian society, and did not always toe the Fascist line. The same thing applies to the Italian monarchy (although Bosworth does not present King Victor Emmanuel III in a positive light). Moreover, he makes a convincing case that the Rome-Berlin Axis was clearly a marriage of unequals, with Italy playing the role of a very junior partner (apparently, Italians did not figure highly in the Nazi racial hierarchy). Even though "national characteristics" are no longer en vogue among historians, I got the impression from this book that Italians were somehow culturally incapable of establishing a genuinely totalitarian state, not to mention one that would seek to create any sort of "new world order." Bosworth also peppers the book with references to Italian Jews who were somewhat active in the Fascist Party. This is obviously a striking contrast to the situation in Nazi Germany. On a more critical note, I wish that Bosworth would have given more attention to the issue of "Italia Irredentia" as a function of Mussolini's foreign policy. After all, the Paris Peace Conference did not resolve this issue in Italy's favor (as it had created Yugoslavia out of much of that territory). Why didn't Mussolini attempt to grab this territory before undertaking a far more costly invasion of Ethiopia? After all, Yugoslavia during this period was a rather unstable nation, in jeopardy of coming apart due to increased ethnic tensions. This would have been interesting to read about. In addition, I found Bosworth's random references to contemporary politics unnecessary. He should have focused all of his energy on his title subject.
Fascinating, yet heavily flawed, and somewhat dishonest........2007-07-02
I have had considerable interest in fascist Italy for about six years now, so finding this book was absolutely thrilling to me. I thought it would provide a balanced and unflinching look at fascist Italy, relying on factual reporting that was not influenced by opinions. In fact, there is some extent to which this is the case; massive amounts of fantastic research that demonstrates tremendous experience and knowledge, and the number of personal stories is simply staggering. Great gaps remain, however. In reading other books and sources, one comes across many of the same things Bosworth discusses, such as shoddy economic planning, meaningless projects, corruption, and shallow propaganda. On the other hand, one also encounters the fourth largest navy in the world, recreational camps that considerably bolstered national fitness and inspired Hitlers phenomenal Strength Through Joy program, armored corps that were innovative and, in fact, quite effective, and an air force that made unrecognized but significant contributions to the axis war effort. Other elements of Bosworth's book seem under emphasized. Progress against malaria, economic expansion into Libya and Ethiopia, and the extent to which Fascist Italy exhausted itself fighting in Spain are all mentioned, but, despite comprising a huge amount of attention for the regime, are not given more than a bit of documentation. Instead, we are treated to a book full of proofs that fascism was only skin deep, a fact that becomes evident in any ideology or government once the odds are clearly against it. That the odds would be against Italy is, of course, a foregone conclusion. Italy was a country that was, by comparison, little effected by the great depression , yet still had an eighth the radios and cars of great Britain, and no radar and other crucial technologies. Of course, Bosworth's comparisons to Liberal Italy are appreciated, but he still discusses Italy's inherent weaknesses far too little. Of course, Bosworth was not attempting to explain why Italy lost the Second World War so badly, but many of Fascist Italy's weaknesses were made manifest in those years, and simply would not have been had, for example, Italy's investment in Franco paid off with a Spanish ally, cutting off Egypt, Greece, and Yugoslavia thanks to Gibraltar and probably winning the Axis the war.
It is Bosworth's ignorance of and lack of attention to warfare that is the most serious flaw in my mind, especially given that this was by far the most emphasized point of the state that Bosworth studies. Bosworth simply briefly mentions that the Italian navy (which constituted a huge emphasis in fascist Italy) was shamefully defeated in several battles, his only comments about the Italian navy in the book, which of course go to suggest that Italy was outdated and a paper thin state. Perhaps Bosworth, the faithful student of Italian history, has not heard of the battles of First and Second Sirte, in which Italian naval forces and mine fields savaged their British opposition? Perhaps Bosworth has not heard of British operations Harpoon, Vigorous, Pedestal, and Agreement, all of which were allied supply or offensive attempts thwarted by either Italian or a combination of Italian and German forces, with Italians composing the entire fight at sea (with a handful of U-Boat exceptions) and a significant part of the aerial forces involved? It seems more likely that Bosworth has heard of them, and chose to omit them because they did not support his point. Considering the nature of the book as overwhelmingly disposed to personal stories, and the overwhelming majority of those being anti-fascist in nature, as well as other examples of pick-and-choose reporting (the Italian air force, Italian commercial interests, Italian international relations, Italy's economy) it is difficult for me to accept that Bosworth is in fact providing solid evidence for any solid argument at all. Of course, I would not question the accuracy of his reporting, simply it's bias and probable selectivity. I enjoyed the read, and am glad that it is being written on and remembered, because we should never forget the crimes of Mussolini and the horrors and lies of authoritarianism, but what I already know of Mussolini's Italy leads me to bring serious doubts to any analysis of this book. I would, nevertheless, encourage any interested reader to purchase this; it is enlightening on a number of things, and is a meaty tome, but I find it sad that in refuting the fascist state, an author feels compelled to skew the facts against it, when they should do it themselves.
A good start but needs some more.......2007-03-31
Bosworth in his novel on Mussolini's Italy makes an effort to show how the fascist regime grew within the state and the extent to which it dominated the state. Fascism was not synonymous with Italian nationalism and Bosworth's explanations of the fascist growth lend credence to the idea that it was slow to take on. He categorizes fascism in various states and his most prevalent is the idea of a northern and southern fascism. This book also does an excellent job of showing how Mussolini's regime permeated the Italian state. The fascist ideals did meet significant resistance with the traditional liberals. The tough stance on labor and the opportunities for the church however drew many allies and allowed Mussolini to take power. One of the points lacking here is that the monarchy played a large role in his rise to power. I feel that Bosworth does not address that issue and I would like to have seen it done more.
Overall this is the best attempt we have on fascist Italy however this book could have been done better. It is incredibly ambitious and either should have been broken into two books or made one book longer. There is a lot of information that is glazed over very quickly leaving some holes in the analysis. If you want an introduction to fascist Italy this is a great place to start but I would not stop here. There are many rich ways to explore the topic and looks at Ray Mosley's Mussolini's Shadow or Dennis Mack Smith's biography of Mussolini are great additions. Understanding how the fascist regime impacted the state and the world make for interesting questions and is something anyone studying World War II should not miss.
Excellent.......2006-09-24
This is an ambitious and successful attempt to write the social history of Fascism. Italian Fascism, Bosworth reminds us, controlled Italy for almost a generation, a considerably longer period than the disastrous experiment of Nazi rule of Germany. How was Fascism experienced by Italians? To what extent did Fascism change Italy? What were the essential features of Fascist rule? What were the well springs of Fascism? Bosworth treats all these issues and more in this carefully documented and well written volume. Rather than pursuing these issues topically, Bosworth has organized this book chronologically. He begins with the nature of Liberal Italy and the experience of WWI, moves through the interwar period and the grim events of WWII, concluding with a concise but revealing chapter on postwar fascist movements. He weaves his topical themes into the narrative very well, providing considerable analysis and showing the historically dynamic nature of the Fascist experience. This combination of narrative and analysis is excellent.
Bosworth is particularly concerned with providing a balanced view of Fascist Italy. The Fascist state is often viewed popularly as a comic opera dicatorship. Bosworth shows well that Fascist Italy appears to be relatively benign only by comparison with Nazi Germany or the Stalinist Soviet Union. This oppressive dictatorship destroyed democracy and human rights in Italy, and by Bosworth's reckoning, was ultimately responsible for about 1 million deaths in Italy, the Balkans, and Africa. It was a police state in which millions of Italians were informing on each other, corrupting the quality of public life. At the same time, Bosworth addresses the "totalitarian" nature of the regime, a claim made by the Fascists themselves that they were remaking the Italian people. Due in large part to the actions of Fascist leaders themselves, this claim is shown to be a fraud. Fascist government itself exemplified the reliance on chains of patronage and clientage with its associated corruption typical of Italian society. Mussolini was quite content to compromise with powerful existing institutions like the Monarchy, the Papacy, and the Army. Bosworth shows very well the continuity the Fascist state had with the Liberal state it replaced and indeed, many of the crucial features of Italian Fascism appear to be extensions of some of the worst features of pre-WWI Italy.
Bosworth's work is careful, thoughtful, and presented extremely well.
Book Description
Married to Benito Mussolini's favorite daughter Edda, Galeazzo Ciano was a brilliant, ambitious and ruthless young Italian. Throughout his period in office Ciano kept a diary so detailed and revealing that both Mussolini and Hitler sought to impound and destroy it. The diary was smuggled out of Italy by Edda, who sought unsuccessfully to trade it for Ciano's life. The diary was later acquired by the American spy, Allen W. Dulles (later head of the CIA) and published in full in the Chicago Daily News. It remains one of the classic insider accounts of the workings of the Fascist and Nazi governments. Ciano's glamorous, violent, and promiscuous life was acted out at the highest levels of European politics and society. There has never been a biography of him in English: this is one gripping read.
Customer Reviews:
Great book on a sorry personality.......2007-05-29
I had some respect for Ciano before I read this, thinking he was the conscience of the Italian people. In getting to know Ciano by reading this book I realized that he was a mirrow image of IL Duce, including the womanizing part. His wife, Duce's daughter, was just as vain and an equally sorry figure. The author does a splendid job of researching old documents, talking to some of the older survivors and friends for first hand info.
WOW. this is one of the most fascinating stories of World War 2.......2007-02-06
This is truly one of the most disturbing stories in World War 2. Ciano would become the epitome of everything hated in Italy. He would claim responsibility for the invasion of Albania and Greece and blamed for some of the worst defeats in Italy's history. Much of this is undeserved as Mussolini was calling many of the shots and the fall out between the two became apparent. Had Ciano been stronger and not captured under the personality cult of Mussolini the break would have been bigger and he would have opposed the war shattering the Duce ideas of a strong Italian army. The diaries that Ciano wrote would be key aspects of Nuremberg and both the allies and axis sought to acquire them. The story of the acquisition is heart wrenching and Edda Ciano's bravery is truly remarkable. What she went through from the execution of her husband to the estrangement of her father Mussolini was simply amazing. This is a must read for those who want to understand how World War 2 unfolded and the war that Italy played. It is a well written biography and truly a great addition to the historiography.
Good background for Ciano's diary.......2003-12-06
Moseley has written a readable and well researched book on the life of the enigmatic Count Ciano. It is certainly the first comprehensive study of Ciano to appear in English. Ciano is worthy of the attention of anyone interested in Twentieth Century Europe, diplomacy, or World War II. Moseley does a good job of revealing Ciano's evolution from a blind follower of Mussolini to active and effective foil. There can be little doubt that in anything less than an unrestricted dictatorship, Ciano's efforts to keep Italy out of WWII would have succeeded. In the end Ciano's undisguished contempt of the Nazi Heirarchy cost him his life. I recommend this book as a precursor to reading Ciano's diary.
Couldn't put it down.......2003-11-24
This is a superb read and Mr Mosely coveres an intensely complex period with majesty and skill. Here and there it is a bit difficult who the subject is of a sentence, as the relative pronoun sometimes doesn't come after the immediately preceding subject of a sentence, but that happens rarely. Mr Moseley's reads like a thriller, but at the same time is a thoroughly researched, critical reading of a tragic, through fascinating period of history. I cannot recommend this book more highly for anyone interested obviously in history, but also for those interested in human behviour and our ability to deceive and contradict ourselves. Do read!
Very good, could have been better.......2000-08-04
This is a good book and Mr. Moseley is to be congratulated on a decent job. He has done his research and provided a vivid account of Ciano and the people around him. I do not give this book five stars, however, because it needs editing. It seems in some places Mr. Moseley loses his strong narrative as he relates diary entry after diary entry - seemingly with little connection. Also, the book could have used a glossary containing the names of the principal players in the Italian fascist government. These faults lie not with Mr. Moseley as much as with his editor/publisher. Nevertheless, I rcommend this book as one that provides a fascinating slice of WWII history.
Book Description
A detailed study of Italy's long-ignored tank force
Explores the intersection of technology, war, and society in Mussolini's Italy
Second only to Germany in number of tank divisions, first to create an armored corps
Though overshadowed by Germany's more famous Afrika Korps, Italian tanks formed a large part of the Axis armored force that the Allies confronted--and ultimately defeated--in North Africa in the early years of World War II. Those tanks were the product of two decades of debate and development as the Italian military struggled to produce a modern, mechanized army in the aftermath of World War I. For a time, Italy stood near the front of the world's tank forces--but once war came, Mussolini's iron arm failed as an effective military force. This is the story of its rise and fall.
Customer Reviews:
Vivid and Deep.......2007-06-12
As the author notes on several occasions, many of the records that could have been of great value to him were destroyed, either by allied bombing or by the Italians themselves after the war. Additionally, the emphasis is placed on the development of Mussolini's Mechanized forces, rather than those units in action in Egypt and Libya, and so most readers who might be attracted to this book as an Italian perspective on the North African campaign could be disappointed. Nevertheless, there is a great perspective on the economic and military developments of the nation that in many ways inspired Germany, Spain, Hungary, Romania, Japan, and movements in many other countries that is both fascinating and rewarding. Though comparisons of Motorized and Mechanized doctrine may seem boring, they in fact reveal the significant differences between different World War II era armies, and discussion of organization is very helpful in understanding modern warfare, or at least seems so to me. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fascist Italy or in tank operations as a rewarding perspective on early tanks and on modern warfare, both doctrinally and technologically.
More than just a history of the development of Italian armor.......2007-02-27
This book provides excellent background on the socio-economic-military conditions that prevented Italy from being a truly great power by 1939. The empahsis is on the development of the Italian tank force, but a large part of the book explains what deterred it. For those interested in Italian armor, the author does a great job of explaining how tactics and armored units developed in the 1930s. This book is highly recommneded for those simply interested in Italy's role in World War II and not necessairly the development of its tank force.
Book Description
Today Franklin Delano Roosevelts New Deal is regarded as the democratic ideal, the positive American response to an economic crisis that propelled Germany and Italy toward Fascism. Yet in the 1930s, shocking as it may seem, these regimes were hardly considered antithetical. Now, Wolfgang Schivelbusch investigates the shared elements of these three new deals to offer a striking explanation for the popularity of Europes totalitarian systems. Returning to the Depression, Schivelbusch traces the emergence of a new type of state: bolstered by mass propaganda, led by a charismatic figure, and projecting stability and power. He uncovers stunning similarities among the three regimes: the symbolic importance of gigantic public works programs like the TVA dams and the German autobahn, which not only put people back to work but embodied the states authority; the seductive persuasiveness of Roosevelts fireside chats and Mussolinis radio talks; the vogue for monumental architecture stamped on Washington, as on Berlin; and the omnipresent banners enlisting citizens as loyal followers of the state. Far from equating Roosevelt, Hitler, and Mussolini or minimizing their acute differences, Schivelbusch proposes that the populist and paternalist qualities common to their states hold the key to the puzzling allegiance once granted to Europes most tyrannical regimes.
Customer Reviews:
A truly brilliant book!.......2007-01-25
This is a truly brilliant book. It highlights the fact that political and economic crises often produce similar results, specifically a centralization of state power. Some people may not like this book because it suggests similarities between Roosevelt's New Deal and Fascism. However, the point here is not to suggest Roosevelt was racist or antisemitic (a totally idiotic notion) but to focus on the much larger issue of the use of state power in a crisis. The book has important lessons for the future. The current world order is doing a very poor job is dealing with deadly threats like the global environmental crisis. In a new series of world crises there is likely to be a huge centralization of power. Albert Speer once observed that when fascism comes back, it will come back as anti-fascism. The larger issue here is totalitarianism and its potential role in the world future.
Honest, Insightful and Thought Provoking.......2006-09-27
Mr. Schivelbusch, in this remarkably well researched and startling book draws parallels between the programs and leadership styles of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Franklin Roosevelt. He shows how many similarities there were to be found between each of these very different men. His purpose is not to demonize FDR, excuse the Nazis and Fascists or even to mitigate the failure of the average German and Italian to stand up their leaders. It is, rather, to provide a warning to the future that populism can shift from the benign to the monstrous. It is must reading for the general reader.
Having been a fan of Mr Schivelbusch's varied work for many years, I recently had the opportunity to dine with him at the home of friends of mine. I was interested to learn that he was a man of the Left, whose views were very different from mine. It is a tribute to his ability as a scholar that I never would have guessed his affiliations. He follows the truth where he finds it and never lets his own biases seep into his work.
He is a careful and diligent researcher. By way of example, T. Harry Williams' Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Huey Long merely casts doubt on those who attribute to Long the most famous of his quotes to the effect that "when Fascism comes to America, it will come in the guise of anti-Fascism." Williams does not make any serious attempt to track down the origin of the attribution, something you would expect from the author of a nearly 1000 page biography. In this short work, in a learned and careful footnote, Schivelbusch offers a variety of possible sources for this quote. THAT is careful research!
I highly recommend Three New Deals.
Book Description
The dramatic story of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, illuminating both the causes and the consequences of this momentous event. Morgan shows how Italians of all classes coped with the extraordinary pressures of wartime living, both on the military and home fronts, and how their experience of the country at war eventually distanced them from the dictator and his fascist regime. Looking beyond Mussolini's initial fall from power, Morgan examines how the Italian people responded to the invasion, occupation, and division of their country by Nazi German and Anglo-American forces - and how crucial the experience of this period was in shaping Italy's post-war sense of nationhood and transition to democracy.
Customer Reviews:
Where's Mussolini???.......2007-07-26
There is very little in this book about Mussolini. There is maybe one page on the Facsist Council meeting of July 25, 1943, and one page on his death in April 1945. Most of the book is filled with activities of the partisans and the general mood of the Italian people from the September 1943 armistice until the end of April 1945. The author recounts obscure partisan events in obscure places to make generalizations about Italy during the late war period (boring). Mussolini is at best a bit player in this book. For readers interested in learning about the fall of Mussolini and the Italian Fascist system, you will need to look elsewhere.
Tumultuous Time: Italy 1943-1945.......2007-07-21
"The Fall of Mussolini" covers the tumultuous period in Italy from roughly the removal of Mussolini from power in July 1943 (much to to the surprise of many, by then King of Italy, etc., Victor Emmanuel III, after Italy's fortunes in the war turned) to his execution in April 1945 after he returns as a puppet of the Nazi Empire in September 1943. There is, of course, explanatory material on events ocurring before July 1943 and after April 1945 but the primary focus of the book is on this brief span and an attempt to explain how it led to Italy's shift from a pre-war pro-Fascist government to a post-war democracy (after abolition of the monarchy by nationwide referendum in 1946 despite the King's abdication shortly beforehand on May 9, 1946, coincidentally almost a year to the day that Germany had surrendered).
The author's purpose is really twofold: (1) to debunk the myth generated by the Italian government(s), people, and historians after World War II that Italy was completely anti-Fascist during World War II with a resistance movement impeding and countering Mussolini's (and later Hitler's) every move; and (2) to present a social history of this turbulent period by showing the extraordinary pressures, risks, and decisions many Italians went through in an ever shifting political and military landscape.
By the time the war ended Italy was in chaos as a result not only of the military struggles and invasions on two fronts (the Germans invading to occupy northern Italy and the Allies invading southern Italy first as conquerors, then as colloborators) but also by sectional political fighting among hard-core Italian Fascists, anti-Fascist rebels, Monarchists, Communists, and others that resembled civil wars.
Overall, it is an interesting look at this aspect of World War II, particularly from the vantage point (and eyewitness accounts) of those who lived through it.
Customer Reviews:
Fairly thorough account of Il Duce's life.......2007-10-15
This book is a combination of several primary sources related directly to Benito Mussolini. The first "My Rise" was Mussolini's account of how he came to power in Italy. It has its uses but the reader should be ware that it does omit several parts of his rise to power and it is worth keeping a good Mussolini biography close at hand to compare the account with. "My Fall" is a compilation of about a dozen articles penned by Mussolini about the time that occurred from the Grand Council meeting to the establishment of the Salo Republic. Overall these provide an interesting look into Mussolini's mind and a chance to understand what he considered important in his life. The accounts are well written and Mussolini does an excellent job of recounting the parts he feels are relevant. It is with an eye towards revisionist history but despite that the documents can still be useful. All of the preface and introductions are done by top notch historians and do an excellent job of putting things in perspective.
A Priceless Historical Account By Il Duce Himself.......2005-05-02
This book is actually a compilation of Benito Mussolini's memoirs set approximately 16 years apart: the first being dated c. 1928 only eight years after his Fascisti 'Black Shirts' had assumed power in Rome by plebescite; the second being dated c. 1944 when the Fascist party in Italy was able to retain power only with Germany's occupation and Mussolini's 'rescue' by German forces.
When it comes to Mussolini, most modern readers immediately compare him to Adolf Hitler even though they understand little of what brought fascism to Italy or why Mussolini was so well received at home and abroad. Contrary to what many believe, Mussolini never had a very high opinion of Adolf Hitler and tried desperately to form a political pact with France/England with regards to Italy's future: Mussolini remained opposed to Hitler because Germany was unified with Italy's arch-enemy, Austria: Mussolini formed the ill-fated axis alliance only at the last minute when he was unable to get the concessions he wanted and Germany formally declared war against France in 1940. It would be his demise as Mussolini and his party would lose power in Italy by 1943 and, instead of the great empire they had promised to the Italian populace, Italy had become a vassal state occupied by the German military: Mussolini himself being nothing more than Hitler's puppet and mouthpiece. Thus, through his memoirs, we can follow how he was a favorite defender of freedom against Boshevism in the 20s and 30s adored by the US and England, to becoming nothing more than Hitler's lapdog by 1943.
This is a very important book where, by his own words, one can measure the man for who he was. Unlike Hitler's rambling anti-semitic diatribe in 'Mein Kampf', Mussolini's papers address purely political and social questions adding with his rather pompous flair that he and his Fascisti are an indispensable to the formation and prosperity of the state. He explains why he was motivated to act and describes the political environment he found himself in fighting the socialist, communist, and capitalist interests in Italy. His memoirs are not only interesting from a historical perspective, but also from a political one in that they provide a lot of insight as to the events that were responsible for the development of fascist doctrines in Europe in that period of time.
If you want to know this man, look no further!!!!!!!!!.......2004-05-15
I will be brief,a man as large as life as Mussolini was , no one but he could write with his vast knowledge of the political turmoil that was slowly tearing Italy apart in the early 1920's.Too bad he came to Italy in the 20th century instead of the 21st!Getting involved with Hitler and his war gives Western writers an opportunity to demean this man.If you take the time to read this you will find the man to be both highly educated and relentless in his faith for the Italian people to move progressively into the 20th century.Buy this book!!!!
Simply the Best.......2003-02-20
one of the best book I have read.
You do not have to agree or disagree with Mr. Mussolini to enjoy this book. Because you can learn a lot about the will power, the determination, and the courage of the man.
Intriguing history, but little theory........2001-12-12
I bought this book on the belief that it would explain to me the very essence of Italian Fascism. Although some important themes and ideas of Mussolini's fascism were discussed, I was disappointed with the lack of detail and expansion. However, I was enthralled by Mussolini's elegant writing style.I found the Duce's view of his own history - however biased - very informing. It gives an intimate view of early 20th century Italy,and in particular, the mood of the Italian people(especially the war veterans). The book's two parts, the first written well before the Second World War and the second during the war, offer a stark comparison of the different outlooks on the world that Mussolini possessed - he was once popular and arrogant, then hated and bitter. The book offers an extraordinary opportunity to take a deep and intimate look inside Mussolini's soul, as well as a thorough - however biased - examination of Fascist Italy. A must for anyone interested in the Duce, Fascism's general themes or World War II in general.
Book Description
The campaign in North Africa during World War Two was one of the most important of the conflict. The allies fought for control of North Africa against the German Afrika Korps led by Rommel. But the part played by Mussolini's Italian troops, and in particular the armored divisions, in support of the Germans is not so well known.
Customer Reviews:
A Breath of Fresh Air.......2007-08-26
This book by Ian Walker is the best treatment of the subject in English I have ever seen. For those who read this book with an open mind, Walker succeeds admirably in what I believe was his aim, i.e., to put the performance of the Italian armored forces in North Africa in somewhat of a proper perspective. No, Walker does not cite specific examples of British and US negative bias towards Italian military performance (that in itself would be a work of monumental proportion), but any serious military buff or historian knows full well in how many ways, from outright falsehoods, to innuendo, the Italians have been marginalized. The facts, as Walker shows, are different. Somewhere, many years ago, I read an account by a British veteran who said something to the effect that "We made many jokes about the Italian artillery, but every time they fired at us, we took cover". Back to Walker's book. I was particularly impressed by his account of the battle of Bir el Gubi - I have written a couple of articles on the battle myself (one, in English, so many years ago that I can't even find a copy of it in my files, although I still have the original correspondence I got from half a dozen British participants in the battle), and one in Italian a few months ago. Walker's in-depth treatment eclipses mine by far. I was also impressed by Walker's reference to the Gruppo Cantaluppi on page 179 - I have never seen any reference to Cantaluppi in any other English-language publication. Cantaluppi was a very colorful commander who managed to squeeze more performance than could be reasonably expected from his exhausted troops on the retreat through Tunisia - but that's another story. My hat is off to Walker for the first serious, balanced treatment I have seen of the subject in English. This book is a must for anyone interested in the war in the desert, or in Italian military operations.
We still await a credible account of Italian forces in the Second World War.......2007-07-14
"Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" is not footnoted, so it is impossible to verify the extraordinary claims made by the book. The bibliography shows that no archival or primary research was done.
"Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" claims that the book is to address the perceived bias of English-speaking sources. Yet the author fails to discuss this in any meaningful way - he merely makes assertions of lack of balance. If one is going to write a book accusing historians of a perceived lack of balance, then it is incumbent on that author to at least provide a discussion of the sources he used. This is not done.
Indeed, the assertion of selective reading and lack of balance can be laid at "Iron Hulls Iron Hulls". For example, on page 101 the author writes that the Official Histories show bias because they do not state that it was the `Ariete' Division which overran a New Zealand battalion. "It seems that the constant deluge of British propaganda about Italian military incompetence both during the war and ever since made the New Zealanders, even in 1953, reluctant to admit that the `incompetent' Italians were responsible for inflicting one of their most embarrassing defeats." This reviewer advises readers to look at the New Zealand official history for themselves - it is available at [...]. The reader can check for himself the credibility of the author's claim. Indeed, in other parts of the NZ Official History, remarks are made on the extremely tenacious resistance made by 9th Bersaglieri Regiment, which undermines the author's contention that the Official Histories were apparently biased (see page 293 of the NZ Official History). This suggests some rather selective research from the author of "Iron Hulls and Iron Hearts".
Much of "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" is simply so implausible as to cast serious doubt over the entire accuracy of the book. For example, pages 153 to 154 describe Operation BERESFORD in such an inaccurate and grabled fashion that this reviewer was at loss to understand what action "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" was actually trying to refer to. From "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" one is left with the impression that the Italians won a minor success, capturing 22 prisoners. In reality, the attack by the Maori Battalion took captured 108 Italians and resulted in the deaths of up to 500 Italians when the Maori Battalion broke through to the transport echelons - something somehow overlooked by the author. The bibliography of "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" includes the history of Cody "28 (Maori) Battalion", so it was apparently read by the author. That the author has omitted such important details raises very serious questions over the credibility of this book. (Readers of this review can make their own minds up: [...]
From pages 156 (Alamein) onwards, the book's lack of balance and lack of research become all too apparent. The number of Sherman tanks described in actions (and apparently lost to Italian fire) is far beyond what is credible, and it is apparent that the author of the book has taken Italian claims completely uncritically. For example, "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" claims that 8th Armoured Brigade at El Agheila had 80 Sherman tanks and lost 22 Sherman tanks in the battle. This is, to be blunt, laughable. In fact, 8th Armoured Brigade had nothing like that number of Sherman tanks, and the actual British losses in the battle were 3 Crusader tanks and 1 Grant tank from the Staffs Yeomanry and a single Scout Car from the Sherwood Rangers - a number of separate British accounts describe a heroic but suicidal attack by a numbr of Italian tanks which resulted in the destruction of 13 Italian tanks whose wrecks were verified after the battle. It is obvious that the Italian claims of 22 Shermans destroyed is considerably exaggerated. Yet "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" accepts these ludicrous claims uncritically, and bizarrely describes this as a "minor success" and a "sharp lesson on 8 Armoured Brigade".
The author claims to be trying to provide a balanced account. To do so would require a proper assessment, comparing conflicting Italian and British accounts and reaching a fair and balanced conclusion based on the strength of the evidence. This, after all, is the basis of history. As such, "Iron Hulls Iron Hearts" cannot be regarded as history.
Excellent work on a forgotten force........2007-02-11
As the author says in his book, many military historians ignore or complete underrate Italy's contribution to the war in North Africa. In fact, it was the Italians who provided most of the Axis forces in North Africa, especially at the beginning of Rommel's counteroffensive. Poorly equipped by the standards of Germany, Britain and the U.S. the Italians nonetheless made war with what they had. The Italians might have been defeated but when well-led they fought as well as any WWII soldier.
Ian Walker really brings to life the difficulties encountered by the Italians, the deficiency of their equipment and (most important of all) WHY their equipment was deficient. Walker goes beyond the stereotype of the Italian soldier and then goes beyond THAT in way of explaination as to how and why he was in the predicament he was in in Africa. Anyone interested in the desert war will want this book.
Une étude salutaire sur les forces italiennes en Afrique!.......2007-01-12
Enfin une étude obejective sur un sujet peu connu. Le fait qu'un Anglo-saxon l'ait conduite est encore plus remarquable. Voilà un ouvrage détaillé et agréable à lire, même si on possède un anglais moyen. Un incontournable!
With a Heart of Iron!.......2006-01-17
Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts is Mr. Ian Walker's telling of the Italian Armored Divisions in WWII, mainly their contributions in North Africa but also their performance prior to North Africa. In this book, Mr. Walker is attempting to dispel the accepted fact that Italian armored divisions were 2nd rate in comparison to the German and British ones. To present his case, Mr. Walker opens by telling the development history of Italian armored forces from post-WWI thru the Spanish Civil War. Attention is paid to Italy's ability to wage modern war (lack of critical resources to develop and maintain an armored force), their development of armored forces; specifically their failure to stay up with other European tank designers, and the development and employment of armored tactics in Ethiopia, Spain, and the Balkans. In this section, Mr. Walker shows how at times the Italians were leaders in the art, but usually they were following the British and Germans.
The heart of the book deals with the performance of the Italian Armored Divisions in North Africa. Mr. Walkers does a good job providing a basic description of the different battles, including a generalization of the forces employed and the how they performed. Mr. Walker usually provides us with the forces the British had present at a given battle, however, Mr. Walker usually does not provide us with a description of their tactical situation unless it was challenging for the Italians. Battles covered range from the opening of desert warfare all the way to the collapse in Tunisia.
Throughout the book, Mr. Walker talks about how British and German forces bad mouth the Italian forces performance in North Africa. However, despite Mr. Walkers claim, he fails to provide direct references to German/British forces bad mouthing the Italian Armored Forces. While the complements Mr. Walker does provide us with aren't always glowing (Rommel providing an off-handed complement, the British mistaking Italian armor forces for Germans), Mr. Walker does fail to show us that the Italian armored forces were viewed in a negative way by the British and Germans (yes, Italian infantry units were usually viewed very poorly by both German and British forces, however my readings from other historians tends to support that Italian armored forces were viewed as either average or above average, especially when compared to their infantry forces).
My conclusion on this book: Mr. Walker has put together a very good telling of an area that is often overlooked by historians and readers of history. The campaign in North Africa is often overlooked past the battle for Tobruk (Gazala) and El Alemain (most people are familiar with the British attack, not the Axis initial attacks). Yes, the specifics of the Italian units is also overlooked by most people, mainly because they focus on one of the more famous units. Because of this, I'd rate this book a solid 4 star book (out of 5). I can't give it more than four stars because of the typos and the fact that Mr. Walkers conclusion was weakly stated (Mr. Walker tells us during the battles how great or not the Italians performed. What he failed to do at the end of the book was to bring these mini-conclusions together into one piece that sold how well the Italian Armored Divisions performed). With a stronger conclusion (summarizing their battle successes), this book could have easily been worth 4.5 stars and would have the nod to 5 for Amazon purposes!
Customer Reviews:
A Scholar for the People.......2006-04-06
Raymond Brown is a rare combination of scholar and communicator. Few scholars can talk to ordinary people in an interesting way. This book goes into great detail, looking at almost every word and phrase in the gospel of John. Not only does Brown tell you his theory, but he shares the theories of other scholars. If you have the patience to slow yourself down and let Brown speak to you, you will be greatly rewarded with insight. If you have the time to reflect on what you read, you will be twice blessed. There may be more here than you want to know. I have just come to accept the fact that I will not get 10 to 20 percent of what Brown writes. I appreciate that though. He forces me to extend my mind. I would not expect anything less from the world's greatest authority on John.
Enthusiastically recommended.......2005-03-09
I have a particular fondness for two volumes of Raymond Brown' s commentary on John. There are like old friends that I have returned to over and over again through the years. They have been consistent and reliable and I appreciate both Brown's scholarly as well as pastoral view points.
The gospel of John presents a particular challenge to the interpreter. It is very different from the "synoptic" gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). It doesn't follow the same dramatic outline and Jesus' words in John often seen so different from the first three gospels. And yet John has remained one ofthe most beloved gospels for laypeople and pastors alike.
It takes a sensitive scholar to weave through the complexities of this gospel without simply discarding everything as un-collaborated material (since it's not in the other gospels). Raymond Brown was such a scholar and this two-volume gem remains some of the best Johannine scholarship in our lifetime (I would include Bultmann in that small group as well).
True to the Anchor Bible format, Brown gives an exceptional, extensive Introduction that covers may of the historical, literary and theological challenges that confront the interpreter. The commentary section itself presents both a detailed analysis of the given text and a more broad interpretation section. Knowledge of the original Greek language is not necessary. To young pastors, students, church libraries, and even interested laypeople, I enthusiastically recommend this commentary.
It is a truly remarkable book.......2004-07-15
If you had to by one scholarly Commentary on the gospel of John, this is it. It is a truly remarkable book. What makes this commentary so good is that it appeals both to the scholarly and pastoral user. Let me explain. Many scholarly commentaries deal almost exclusively with issues of textual and form criticism. While helpful to the scholar, it just does not preach. While pastoral commentaries deal with preaching themes, they often lack scholarly insight into the text. Raymond Brown gives us the best of both. This is one commentary that stands the test of time.
Dissapointed.......2002-12-27
I have searched for months for a good commentary on the Gospel of John and it looks like the search continues. I got it based on the reviews I have seen on the book from readers. I guess its different strokes for different folks. I am more of a greek and indepth detials on new testament words. My type of commentary is the classic on Jude&Peter by Bauckham. I didn't get that type of exegesis from Brown.
A solid, insightful and intelligent commentary........2000-10-07
Raymond Brown is an incredible scholar and has presented one of the finest commentaries written on the gospel according to John. Both introductory notes and main commentary are fluid and reveal significant insight. The book is an absolute pleasure to read regardless of theological persuation and one does not get worn out with overly technical information found in other commentaries of this caliber.
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Fascist Spectacle: The Aesthetics of Power in Mussolini's Italy (Studies on the History of Society and Culture)
Mussolini's Italy: Life Under the Fascist Dictatorship, 1915-1945
Donatello Among The Blackshirts: History And Modernity In The Visual Culture Of Fascist Italy
The Body of Il Duce: Mussolini's Corpse and the Fortunes of Italy
Fascist Modernities: Italy, 1922-1945 (Studies on the History of Society and Culture, 42)
