Feb 14, 2017 there are a few good biographies about benito mussolini but there are very few that are written in english, especially compared to hitler or stalin, as an example. Most italians just try to forget about it, but they have just had to face up to this tricky subject again, as october 28 is the 90th anniversary of mussolinis march on rome 1922 that brought the fascist leader to power and enabled him to stay there. Flag of italy biography icon, this italian biographical article is a stub. Caio mussolini has other familial ties to rightwing politics, in addition to his infamous greatgrandfather. Benito mussolini biography life, family, story, death. The most prominent member was benito mussolini, the fascist dictator of italy from 1922 to 1943.
For readers interested in world war ii and the path upon which its leaders trod, this is informative and interesting. Carlo and nello rosselli were influential opponents of mussolini. There are so many biographies of him that he has become a noir. I didnt realize that he didnt like hitler but was nevertheless tied to. Within 24 hours he was executed by his captors, joining those he sent early to their graves as an outcome of his tyranny. This biography profiles his childhood, life, political career and timeline. Born in northern italy in 1833, benito mussolini grew up with an unloving father and became a bully who clung to socialist values and defied authority. A bold and dangerous family ably chronicles one italian familys. Italian dictator who came to power after his successful march on rome in 1922.
His dreams of empire led to the invasion of ethiopia in 1935 and a declaration of war on the allies in 1940. The ssdi is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. Mussolinis greatgrandson to run for seat in european. This is not the fault of the author but of the man who seems to have been a puzzle to himself. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. Heavy andor oversized books require additional postage. Mussolini by his wife, donna rachele mussolini a really good book my truth by his daughter edda once hostile, she comes to forgive him mussolini. Although mussolini had 5 children by his wife, rachele guidi, he was a father in absentia much of the time. Originally a revolutionary socialist, he forged the paramilitary fascist movement in. Mussolini is clearly a mesmerising subject for biographers. The mussolini genealogy and family tree page welcome to the mussolini family page at surname finder, a service of genealogy today.
To mussolini, children were little more than raw material from which to. On his downfall there is the early book 1949 by dombrowski titled mussolini. Italian noted family, the wife of benito mussolini. Il duce, benito mussolini, was one of the key figures in the creation of fascism. Most italians just try to forget about it, but they have just had to face up to this tricky subject again, as october 28 is the 90th anniversary of mussolini s march on rome 1922 that brought the fascist leader to power and enabled him to stay there. Benito mussolini lived his life with a passion instilled in him by his father. We werent there for the celebrations, but in august the town of predappio, italy, seemed haunted by benito mussolini, all the same. Benito mussolini bio, facts, family famous birthdays. After his death and the display of his corpse in milan, mussolini, 61 years old, was buried in an unmarked grave in the musocco cemetery, the reinterment in the mussolini family crypt in predappio was carried out on 1 september 1957, with supporters present giving the fascist salute. Given his fathers political leanings, mussolini was named benito after liberal mexican president benito juarez, while his middle names, andrea and amilcare, were for italian socialists. Mussolinis last lover is a book that casts a new light on mussolini as a failed leader. List of books and articles about benito mussolini online. This section is a placeholder for information about the mussolini surname.
As a close ally of adolf hitler during world war ii, he is considered a central figure in the birth of european fascism. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. But if i was going to recommend a couple of books about mussolini that captured his. The princeton legacy library uses the latest printondemand technology to again make available previously outofprint books from the distinguished backlist of.
Benito mussolini was born to a poor family in predappio, a town in northeastern italy. She came from humble origins, had a good deal of common sense and led a retiring life. His father, alessandro, was a blacksmith and an impassioned socialist who. Benito mussolini biography, definition, facts, rise.
Before the war mussolini agreed the axis pact with hitler, but when war broke out italy stayed. With the political and social doctrine of fascism dover books on history, political and social science by mussolini, benito and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Benito mussolini s children although mussolini had 5 children by his wife, rachele guidi, he was a father in absentia much of the time. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with usercontributed information and web sites for the mussolini surname. He invented the term fascism to describe a system run by a dictator who did not allow different political opinions or opposition. Ezra pound meets mussolini, reads from a draft of cantos 1936 ce. He ruled as the prime minister of italy from the fascist coup detat in 1922 until his deposition in 1943, and duce leader of fascism from the establishment of the fasci of combat in 1919 to his. Mussolini by laura fermi, 1966 online research library. Benito mussolini july 29, 1883april 28, 1945 served as italys 40th prime minister from 1922 to 1943. Biography of benito mussolini, italian fascist dictator. Benito mussolini s most popular book is the doctrine of fascism. Mussolini was a dedicated socialist who used his charisma and passion to forge together the fascist party in italy. Mussolini crypt dark tourism the guide to dark travel.
A bold and dangerous family caroline moorehead hardcover. When german defenses in italy collapsed in 1945, he was captured and executed by italian partisans. Mussolini s literary productions include the cardinals mistress tr. This provocative book is the first to mine claras extensive diaries, family. Like any good biography, a bold and dangerous family is about far more than. The paradox at the passionate heart of a house in the mountains is that the second world war offered italian women emancipation and fulfilment, as if suddenly here was an end to years of. Britain currently stands alone, france is german occupied and the us and ussr are staying neutral, britain doesnt stand a. Even more than seven decades after his highly inglorious demise, the duce is still almost religiously revered here to a truly scary degree. A full third of the book is devoted to these early years, including information on his family, education, war experience, and eventual expulsion from the italian socialist party for advocating intervention in the great war. Family and friends members can update their personal cookbook page, recipes and pictures by signing in and clicking on family page option on the upper righthand of the menu bar or by clicking here. Please email for info concerning any book or dust jacket. The notes were sent to richard washburn child and compiled into a book. Milan ap a third descendant of benito mussolini is entering italys.
Enraged, mussolini confined dalser to a mental home, where, shortly before christmas 1937, she died. It was dug up and moved several times before 1 september 1957 when, after many requests by mussolinis widow rachele, his remains were buried in a private ceremony at the family vault in san cassiano cemetery at predappio, the small village near forli in emiliaromagna near the adriatic coast, where benito andrea amilcare mussolini was born on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. To mussolini, children were little more than raw material from which to create future fascists and soldiers. But, the information about mussolini was fascinating.
With this lasting legacy it may therefore be surprising that this pioneer of italian fascism was born in the small town of dovia di predappio to a blacksmith and a schoolteacher. The death of benito mussolini and his mistress clara petacci. An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your mussolini ancestors lived in harsh conditions. Benito mussolini was an italian political leader who became the fascist dictator of italy from 1925 to 1945. A year later, neofascist loyalists dug up his body and hid it in a convent in lombardy until 1957, when the remains were returned to mussolini s widow, who buried them in the family crypt in. Rachele mussolini, horoscope for birth date 11 april 1890. Mussolini is a major character in niven and pournelles inferno, a retelling of dante s work of that name.
As an adult, benito mussolini would have two wives and many mistresses. Third mussolini descendent enters italian political arena. Presidente del consiglio benito amilcare andrea mussolini. May 11, 2008 on his downfall there is the early book 1949 by dombrowski titled mussolini. Tourists still drawn to tomb of mussolini, il duce, in. Theres some good information but ultimately comes across as a hitpiece rather than a genuine look on mussolini, as ridley omits many things that contradict his clearly liberal viewpoint. Benito mussolini, italian prime minister 192243 and the first of 20thcentury europes fascist dictators. In december 1915, mussolini married rachele guidi, his mistress since 1910, and with his following political ascendancy the information about his first marriage was suppressed and both his first wife and son were later persecuted. Finally, while this is a clearly objective criticism, the book was boring.
As always with his books, this biography is informative, well written and extremely readable. He threw out his countrys constitution in 1925 in favor of a dictatorship and he allied with hitler during wwii. Mussolini was laid to rest in a large stone sarcophagus. Welcome to the mussolini family page at surname finder, a service of genealogy today. His father, alessandro, was a blacksmith and an impassioned socialist who spent much of his time on politics and much of his. The incredible story of the italian women who defied. Oct 31, 2002 in 1945, disguised in german greatcoat and helmet, mussolini attempted to escape from the advancing allied armies. In 1945, disguised in german greatcoat and helmet, mussolini attempted to escape from the advancing allied armies.
Of course the crimes of mussolinis thugs, horrifying as they often were, seem. Alessandro mussolini 18541910, blacksmith, statist communist, and the father of benito mussolini. Mussolini s body was later removed, and in 1957 it was placed in his family s vault. Books by benito mussolini author of the doctrine of fascism. Mussolini genealogy and mussolini family history information.
This book is apparently a poor translation because the commas and other punctuation that helps the reader are missing or misplaced. In 1943, mussolini was replaced as prime minister and served as the head of the italian social republic until his capture and execution by italian partisans in 1945. They met when he was a young journalist and socialist in 19. However, unlike richard lambs mussolini as diplomat and christopher hibberts rise and fall of il duce, ridley throws in very clumsy modern criticisms of mussolini that come across as politically motivated which should come as no surprise, given. Five italianjewish families under fascism, and of the sack of rome. The mussolinis were a poor family who lived in a crowded twobedroom apartment. Benito mussolini, the infamous italian fascist dictator, became the feared militaristic dictator of the italian people along with a close ally of hitler up to 1943. Mussolini, a journalist by training, used the media brilliantly to cultivate a direct bond with italians that confounded political parties and other authority structures and lasted for 18 years. From 1925 until 1943 the mussolini family lived in villa torlonia shown left on via nomentana in rome, a princely villa full of frescoes, totally rebuilt during the 19th century by the torlonia family of bankers. While, yes, he purposely kept people at a distance, examining his family, mistresses, and other fascists more deeply would have given mussolinis entire life more context. After the allies invaded italy, he was captured while trying to escape north in 1945 and hanged by italian partisans in. Jan 22, 2019 in december 1915, mussolini married rachele guidi, his mistress since 1910, and with his following political ascendancy the information about his first marriage was suppressed and both his first wife and son were later persecuted. William saroyan wrote a short story about mussolini in his 1971 book, letters from 74 rue taitbout or dont go but if.
His mother, rosa maltoni, was a devout catholic schoolteacher who provided the family with some stability and income. Ollas biography ends that momentous year of 1937, when mussolini. Unfortunately for him, the convoy of which he was part was stopped by partisans and his features, made so familiar by fascist propaganda, gave him away. Benito mussolini was an italian politician and leader of the fascist party, who ruled the country as prime minister from 1922 until 1943.
Benito mussolini was born at dovia di predappio, italy, on july 29, 1883. While, yes, he purposely kept people at a distance, examining his family, mistresses, and other fascists more deeply would have given mussolini s entire life more context. His father was a blacksmith and a follower of socialism a system providing for the sharing of land and goods equally among all people. Read a short biography about the life of benito mussolini the founder of fascism and hitlers ww2 ally. Not much written on the salo republic in english language but hibbert gives a good overview of the 19431945 period when mussolini was a captive in more ways than one the germans, his mistress petacci, his family, and his very angry wife.
Famed for his dictatorial style, his political cunning and admired initially by hitler, mussolini led the national fascist party and ruled italy as prime minister from 1922 until his ousting in 1943. Mussolini emerges, therefore, as a more radical and far less conventional italian statesman than he is usually depicted in other historical studies. This is a work in progress and all of the site functions are not yet complete. Benito mussolini has 70 books on goodreads with 3309 ratings.
A life from beginning to end world war 2 biographies book 5 ebook. Its a book about resistance and valour, about italian life and the. Mussolini was an arrogant pseudointellectual who employed demagoguery and flattery to obtain and keep power. Benito mussolini july 1940 a month after we entered the war as germanys ally, we have captured british somaliland and some parts of egypt. Mussolini was a complex and often contradictory man, as exemplified by his early political career as a revolutionary. Mussolini has always been a puzzle for me and after reading this book he remains a puzzle. Many of mussolini s political speeches and pamphlets have been translated into english. A worthy companion to bosworths previous biography of mussolini, this study is. Benito mussolini 18831945 was the leader of italy during world war ii. His father, alessandro, was a blacksmith and an impassioned socialist who spent much of his time on politics and much of his money on his mistress.
Charlie chaplin s 1940 film the great dictator satirizes mussolini as. Rosa maltoni mussolini 18581905, mother of benito mussolini, married to alessandro mussolini. The urge to write this book grew in me out of the bewilderment i experienced several years ago when in the course of checking dates and events for another book i began to discover the true mussolini, i thought i knew what he had been like, for i had lived in rome until 1938, when i came to the united states with my family, and mussolini had been in power sixteen years. His father was a blacksmith who wrote parttime as a socialist journalist, and his mother was a staunchly catholic schoolteacher. Aug 10, 2016 mussolini, a journalist by training, used the media brilliantly to cultivate a direct bond with italians that confounded political parties and other authority structures and lasted for 18 years. The mussolini family is a wellknown family in italy. Benito mussolinis father, alessandro mussolini, was a blacksmith and a socialist, while his mother, rosa nee maltoni, was a devout catholic schoolteacher. Caios father, guido, was an activist for forza nuova, an identitarian radical party. There are a few good biographies about benito mussolini but there are very few that are written in english, especially compared to hitler or stalin, as an example. There is some genuinely good information to be learned from this book, hence the two stars.
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