Mussolini [Paperback]

Martin Clark (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 058206595X | ISBN-13: 978-0582065956 | Publication Date: February 25, 2005 | Edition: 1

This book is an excellent insight into Mussolini's personality and his rise to power. Its a stylish study of a dynamic, insecure man who ruled via the media, but was corrupted by power and engaged in a serious of disastrous wars.

• Written in a witty and readable style
• Discussions on Mussolini's obsession and pioneering use of the media - he set up the first 'mediacracy' - rule by journalists and 'spin'
• 2004 marks the 60th anniversary of Mussolini's death so there will be general interest in the subject
• Interesting personality - he invented 'health fascism' - he was the first jogging politician

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...a highly readable account, packed with information, full of references to present-day politics and with a fair number of light-hearted asides to the reader. Clark is a master of the moderating synthesis and has no place for moral outrage.'

Paul Corner, Journal of Modern Italian Studies 2006

From the Back Cover

Mussolini is remembered as one of the two most important Fascist dictators of the twentieth century. He seized power in Italy in 1922 and ruled the country until overthrown in 1943. But his rule ended in military disaster and personal humiliation, and he was executed by anti-Fascist partisans in 1945.

 

This readable and witty biography focuses both on Mussolini¿s personality and on the way he exercised power, and regards these two issues as closely linked.  It:

• Considers him as a man with all the talents needed to attain power but few of those needed to exercise it well in the long run.  Indeed, he had absolutely the wrong personality for a successful political (and a fortiori military) leader. He was a dynamic but insecure man, who appeared dictatorial but always had to share power with the military and bureaucratic Establishment, and greatly resented the fact.
• Reflects on the nature of government and on how things work in modern societies, and on how far politics and individuals make a difference.
• Argues that Mussolini¿s appeal rested on embodying robust masculine virtues ¿ courage, responsibility, patriotism ¿ that are now distinctly old-fashioned, but still have very widespread support.  That is why his admirers still regard him as the ¿Last Man in Europe¿

 

On the 60th anniversary of Mussolini¿s death, Martin Clark¿s portrayal of the Fascist dictator¿s leadership bears a striking resemblance to the rule of contemporary politicians, obsessed by media spin and short-term triumphs at home and abroad. Clark argues that Mussolini pioneered a ¿mediacracy¿ ¿ rule by journalists attempting to ensure that all social institutions, and even the private sphere, conform to government dictates. The Fascist stress on political correctness may have been quite different in subject-matter from today¿s, but was similar in its attempts to make certain extremely common things unsayable and even unthinkable.

 

Martin Clark is former Reader in Politics at the University of Edinburgh. He is author of many books on Italian history, including Longman titles Modern Italy1871-1995 and The Italian Risorgimento.

 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 1 edition (February 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 058206595X
• ISBN-13: 978-0582065956
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good bio, September 6, 2011

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J. Friday - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mussolini (Paperback)

This is mainly a political economic look at Fascist Italy. It isn't much of a bio of Mussolini because he was a workaholic who didn't lead much of an interesting life away from work. He went to bed late, rose early, and lived his life around work. That's why all Mussolini bios are basically bios of Fascist Italy. A lot of these world leaders weren't interesting people away from their jobs. So if you expect mainly a bio, you're in for a disappointment. However, Mussolini did have interesting quirks (he didn't even wait to get his mistresses into bed; he had sex with them on the stairs and then dismissed them so he could go to bed alone) and opinions (he believed Italy wasn't destined to be a world leader no matter how hard the Italians tried).

Still, this is a good book for political scientists, economists, and historians. I gave it four stars because it wasn't objective in any way. It was extremely subjective. Yet it has new detail other historical books on Fascist Italy don't. Its not good for the casual reader. It's good for someone interested in Fascist Italy and is willing to analyze in order to understand it.