Book recs: history of post-war Italy?

May 23, 2006 7:30 PM

Looking for recommendation for good book about history of Post-War Italy.

Just watched Good Morning, Night and realized how little I know about modern Italian history. Ideally, looking for something engagingly written and broad in scope- if it is too dry I will just fall asleep. Also, any great books going into depth about any of the major events/aspects of modern Italy.

posted by overanxious ducksqueezer to Society & Culture (6 answers total)

I found Benito Mussolini's autobiography (Chapters/Indigo link, of the non-self-plugging variety) to be very interesting. It might not be contemporary enough, or wide enough in scope for you. For me, the really fascinating bit was near the end when he speaks of himself in the third person, almost as if he regarded Mussolini as almost a completely separate person; so complete was his break from reality when the axis fell apart.
posted by KevCed at 7:50 PM on May 23, 2006

Aha! Of course I see "Post-War" after I clicked on Post Comment. Well, it's still a good book even if I have essentially proven myself illiterate.
posted by KevCed at 7:51 PM on May 23, 2006

I read The Dark Side of Italy when it came out - in the UK it received a lot of attention in the broadsheet press. My recollection of the book now is somewhat hazy, but it's a lively read and good on Berlusconi.
posted by boudicca at 1:22 AM on May 24, 2006

Paul Ginsborg's History of Contemporary Italy, was a set-text for my post-war Italian literature and film courses, and was pretty interesting too. I would also second boudicca on The Dark Heart of Italy.
posted by featherboa at 2:21 AM on May 24, 2006

Peter Robb, Midnight in Sicily

This book gripped me and did not let me go. I have not read the other recommendations and thus cannot make comparisons but this book was tremendously interesting.
posted by gen at 3:41 AM on May 24, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks to all so far! I managed to locate all but one of the books (including Mussolini as a bonus) in our library system, and ordered the Ginsborg book. But don't let this stop anybody else who feels like adding something.
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 1:17 PM on May 24, 2006