Learning about Italy in the 1930s

May 5, 2010 6:46 AM

Happily defying the basic convention of "write what you know," I'm working on a long piece of fiction about Italy in the 1930s. Predictably, I need to know more. Help!

There are plenty of books about World War II, and about political situations leading up to World War II, but I'm looking for books and movies about life in Italy before World War II. Not politics, or economics (though not necessarily devoid of them) - just focused on the people. I'm interested in things like food and agriculture, technology, religion, cities, employment, and class. This is sort of vague, but on the other hand, I'm casting a wide net in my plea for research materials.

If any of you can think of movies, books (fiction or nonfiction), or any other materials that cover life in Italy in the 1930s, please, send 'em my way!

Thanks!

posted by entropone to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

Tea with Mussolini starts out pre-WWII and is a "semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli."
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:57 AM on May 5, 2010

the keywords youre looking for are "anni 30", basically the thirties in italian.
see if you get any ideas from youtube
... good luck!
posted by 3mendo at 9:43 AM on May 5, 2010

You could have a look at the chapters on Italy in Piers Brendon's The Dark Valley: a panorama of the 1930s, and more specifically look at the references as a way to find more relevant/detailed readings. I seem to recall a bit less about social and cultural history in the sections on Italy than in some of the others (e.g. the chapters on the USA), but that could just be me.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 12:35 PM on May 5, 2010

Amarcord is a Fellini film set in 1930's Italy, based on his memories of being a child then in Rimini.
posted by Kattullus at 2:28 PM on May 5, 2010