Mussolini: A Biography

by Jasper Ridley

Book Overview

Hardly the buffoon he is frequently made out to be, Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was an able politician who won the esteem of many statesmen and who knew how to cooperate peacefully with foreign... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312193033
• ISBN13: 9780312193034
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Insightful biography

It should not be surprising that how people think today is shaped largely by the media and influenced by a need to conform to the majority. Americans, in particular, get most of their information of their world from TV and do not read books or feel the need to examine issues of concern in depth. Americans, although characterized as individualists, have a strong need to be a part of the majority and not of the kooky far-out fringe. It is the popular media and the need to be within the mainstream that has shaped the American's perception of history. Have a typical American describe "Benito Mussolini" and the result is a caricature. Jasper Ridley's "Mussolini" describes an "Il Duce" who is definitely more than a cartoon. Ridley describes Mussolini's path from committed socialist revolutionary to leader of Fascist Italy. Mussolini's work ethic and firm sense of nationalism is detailed. One interesting fact is that Mussolini never really admired the Germans or National Socialism and Hitler in particular. However, he eventually co-operates with Hitler to further Italy's security. After reading this book, one gets the impression that the oft parroted Allied fantasy that the Axis powers were committed in taking over the entire world is exactly that. Rather than a unanimous vanguard, the Tripartate Alliance was merely a marriage of convenience. Indeed, one can see the same kind of propaganda being generated by American neo-cons, with such nonsense as the "axis of evil." The book also details events throughout the world during Mussolini's time which impacted his decisions relating to the state. In particular, the entire world was not interested in another European war. Rather than follow obey the will of the people, the governments then, and now, followed the agenda of the elites and plunged the world into senseless slaughter. As with Italy of the past, true American patriots are those that place the interests of America, and not those of other tribes, first.

Mussolini

It should not be surprising that how people think today is shaped largely by the media and influenced by a need to conform to the majority. Americans, in particular, get most of their information of their world from TV and do not read books or feel the need to examine issues of concern in depth. Americans, although characterized as individualists, have a strong need to be a part of the majority and not of the kooky far-out fringe. It is the popular media and the need to be within the mainstream that has shaped the American's perception of history. Have a typical American describe "Benito Mussolini" and the result is a caricature. Jasper Ridley's "Mussolini" describes an "Il Duce" who is definitely more than a cartoon. Ridley describes Mussolini's path from committed socialist revolutionary to leader of Fascist Italy. Mussolini's work ethic and firm sense of nationalism is detailed. One interesting fact is that Mussolini never really admired the Germans or National Socialism and Hitler in particular. However, he eventually co-operates with Hitler to further Italy's security. After reading this book, one gets the impression that the oft parroted Allied fantasy that the Axis powers were committed in taking over the entire world is exactly that. Rather than a unanimous vanguard, the Tripartate Alliance was merely a marriage of convenience. Indeed, one can see the same kind of propaganda being generated by American neo-cons, with such nonsense as the "axis of evil." The book also details events throughout the world during Mussolini's time which impacted his decisions relating to the state. In particular, the entire world was not interested in another European war. Rather than follow obey the will of the people, the governments then, and now, followed the agenda of the elites and plunged the world into senseless slaughter. As with Italy of the past, true American patriots are those that place the interests of America, and not those of other tribes, first.

A good introduction to the "Duce"

Jasper Ridley's biography of Mussolini does a good job of retelling the life of this ambitious but fatally flawed leader. Mussolini was no Hitler. Even had he desired it, he could never have established totalitarianism in Italy as the temperment of the Italian people simply would not have allowed it. Instead he was sort of like the neighborhood bully elevated to power. Threatening yes, but not truly evil. Had World War Two not happened, his fate probably would have been more similar to Spain's Franco, whose regime died of natural causes with him. The most interesting aspect of Mussolini's life was his transistion from socialism to fascism, but even this can be viewed as opportunism from a man with no real political convictions other than obtaining and maintaining power. Overall, this is a good introdution to the man who in the end got what he deserved from his own people.