My Father Il Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Alexander Stille (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author Mussolini, a jazz pianist who toured with the likes of Chet Baker and Dizzy Gillespie, may not have shared entirely his father's bellicose sensibility, but as the youngest son of Italian dictator Benito, Mussolini admits that he was entranced by his father's stature and charisma-making for a complicated and conflicted memoir, a bestseller in Italy. Indeed, the introduction by Columbia professor Stille warns of the "half-truths, evasions, and self-deceptions that characterize this memoir," a book "laced with a series of absurdly revisionist accounts ... aimed principally at absolving Mussolini." In the book's first chapter, the author explains his two-pronged mission: "I wanted not only to share my memories as a son, but also ... to help shed light on certain aspects of Il Duce's life." Only in the first endeavor-sharing details only a son "extremely attached to his father" could provide-does he really succeed: Benito was a captivating storyteller, a man of simple tastes ("he also liked boiled chicken quite a bit") and, above all, a man whose children idolized him. As for shedding meaningful light on the towering figure, there is little Mussolini's son can offer to mitigate history's account of his father's role as a war-mongering fascist. Perhaps in part because his father was so "skilled at keeping the public Mussolini and the private Mussolini separate," it seems the author has no real grasp of his father's real impact. It makes for an interestingly incomplete portrait of the reviled leader, and a more interesting self-portrait of faith, denial and the blinding power of a son's love.
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From Booklist

In the pantheon of twentieth-century fiends, Benito Mussolini was strictly second rate. His efforts to curtail personal liberty never reached the heights of Hitler, Stalin, or Mao. Still, he was bad enough, as he used demagoguery and cynical manipulation of mobs to rise to power and then launched brutal wars of aggression in Africa and Europe. As one might expect, his son presents a revisionist view. Romano, who died in February 2006, was too young to witness his father's rise to power. So the figure he describes here is a middle-aged patriarch who comes home to lunch with his family, who shows great tenderness toward his children, and who is a devoted husband (despite his documented infidelities). Although Romano acknowledges his father's "errors," he asserts that most of his actions were beneficial to the Italian people. Perhaps it seems easy to dismiss this work as an understandable attempt of a son to rehabilitate the image of a father he loved, but given the resurgence of neo-Fascist political parties in Italy, this is a disturbing and relevant effort. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Kales Press; 1 edition (November 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967007682
• ISBN-13: 978-0967007687
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #800,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Il Duce, the Family Man, November 2, 2006

By	John Sollami (Stamford, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This unique short memoir, a best seller in Italy, is really about a son's blind and unconditional love for his father, even if this father had been a member of the grotesque family of 20th-century fascist monsters who ultimately were responsible for the slaughter of millions. In a penetrating introduction by the Italian political culture authority Alexander Stille, the fond recollections of Mussolini as an attentive and loving father who encouraged his son to pursue music, who always "performed" his family duty toward his wife, and who frequently entertained the kids with fabulous family stories, are put into perspective with citations of the cold historical facts. One has to read this brilliant introduction to really get those facts, as Romano Mussolini fails to deliver any of them. In fact, his recollections are about a more or less normal family life, if that can be said, and about the unfair treatment his father suffered at the hands of an ungrateful public who forgot all he did for them. The allies also aren't presented with any love or affection. There are anecdotes here that are worth reading as well, but in the end, one wonders how Romano could have steered clear of all the blood and gore, cruelty and absurd bravado that his father brought into the world. To me, this is more of a psychological study of one man's delusions and prejudices than a historical document. Nonetheless, it's provocative and well worth the quick read.

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed, November 18, 2009

By	Amadeus (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

I found this work to be seriously flawed.

Firstly, the introduction written by Alexander Stille is terrible. I must disagree with the other reviewers that Mr. Stille's intro helped to put the work into the proper "perspective." I am far from a Mussolini apologist but anyone seriously interested in 20th Century European history, must realize that while Hitler and Mussolini were allies during the Second World War, they are NOT interchangeable. One cannot lump Mussolini into "the monsters that were responsible for killing millions." Hitler and Stalin, yes. But what makes Mussolini so interesting is that he is a much more complex case. He was in power in Italy much longer than Hitler was in Germany and achieved some very great things. Of course his legacy is forever linked to the Nazi inspired polices during the war, but to reduce the man to that is a disservice to historical accuracy. In brief, I could have done without the intro. If Mr. Stille wants to write about Mussolini he should write his own account.

Secondly, Romano Mussolini's writing style (or perhaps the translation) was very choppy and made for unpleasant reading.

Overall, this book is very flawed but provides an inside look at Mussolini the Family man, which makes it worth the read. Although, I advise skipping the introduction entirely.

4.0 out of 5 stars Clark's Eye on Books by Clark Isaacs, September 23, 2009

By	Clark Isaacs "Clark's Eye on Books by Clark I... (Kingman AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My Father IL Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son
Author: ROMANO MUSSOLINI
ISBN: 978-0-9670076-8-7 Pages: 180, $[...], Publication Date: Oct 2006

When looking back through portrayals of historical figures that were quite sinister; it is necessary to keep them in perspective of how horrendous they were. Benito Mussolini was one of those people who used his power for evil. The introductory essay by Alexander Stille sets the record straight before the memoir is presented by Romano Mussolini, Benito's son.

History is embellished to show that this horrific character was a family man. Loving, endearing, and quite captivating is the image discussed by Romano. However, an alliance with Hitler, the slaughter of Italian Jews, and sending thousands of soldiers to the Russian front are only a few of the real deeds laid upon the father by Stille in his introduction.

The family history from strictly a biographical standpoint is quite fascinating. Attempts on the life of Mussolini starting in 1925, are described in a manner which indicates the son believed his father had led a charmed life. Before the end of World War II the people in Italy caught up with Mussolini. They ended his life by firing squad, and then strung him up by his heels along with his mistress, displaying them in a public square. Yes, this portrait of a family man is smudged with the dalliances he had with many women during the course of his marriage.

Romano was a musician of some renown in Italy and throughout the jazz world. He played piano with many well known artists including Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Tony Scott. He lived in Rome and died in February 2006.

If you are a history buff, this would be a unique perspective into Benito Mussolini and his family's life. The book is well edited and presented by Romano, one of his sons.