Customer Reviews

The Italian Risorgimento: State, Society and National Unification (Historical Connections)

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I found this book to be one of the poorer encounters of the Risorgimento. It certainly didn't grab my attention. She provides a lot of detail..perhaps too much but fails to draw the attention of the audience. I would suggest another book on the Risorgimento over Riall's account such as Derek Beales.

This is a great text for someone who wants to read an engaging, analytical, lively argument about such a dramatic turning point in the history of Italy rather than the often purely descriptive narrative of the Risorgimento that other influential historians have produced. As an Italian recently graduated in History at a UK University, I have to admit that my dissertation would have been just a sterile effort without the inspiration of Dr. Riall's work. It is definitely compulsory and compelling reading for readers that know already about the crucial episodes leading to the Italian unification and about the mythical protagonists, but are more interested in the debate and evaluation of the period.