Mussolini 1883 – 1915: Triumph and Transformation of a Revolutionary Socialist (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) [with Emilio Gentile]
Di Scala has again partnered with Emilio Gentile to edit a new Mussolini volume that explores the same theme as Mussolini socialista.
This book describes Mussolini’s little-known radical ideology, including his activities in Switzerland, relationship with revolutionary syndicalism, and radical journalism. It provides an in-depth treatment of the young Benito Mussolini as a revolutionary Socialist and describes the political maneuverings that took a major European Socialist party by storm before the First World War. It explains the process of how he came to dominate Italian Socialism until the crisis caused by Italy’s intervention in World War I. It illuminates Mussolini’s leadership qualities and his rise to leader of the Italian Socialist Party.
Praise for Mussolini 1883 – 1915
“Mussolini 1883-1915 at long last provides an intelligent, scholarly, and insightful work in English on his transition from revisionist Marxist to nationalist revolutionary, one which complements A. J. Gregor’s pioneering study of his early intellectual odyssey. Taken together, these excellent essays throw into relief the banality of the long tradition of biographies which perversely play down or ignore the obsessive seriousness and continuous creativity of the duce’s ideological and existential concern to renew Italy, a concern which provides the key to resolving the paradox that such a prominent Italian socialist was able to become the world’s first nationalist revolutionary head of state.” —Roger Griffin, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford Brookes
“The group of renowned scholars assembled in this volume devoted to Benito Mussolini’s turbulent young political career brilliantly analyzes the complex and contradictory nature of his personality, thus shedding light on his odyssey from revolutionary socialist to Fascist dictator. Together the essays provide an exemplary and well-rounded analysis of the Duce’s thinking and the travails he brought upon himself before turning on his own party after the Great War and eventually donning the Blackshirt.” —H. James Burgwyn, Professor of History Emeritus, West Chester University
“Di Scala and Gentile have assembled a gifted team of specialists who analyze with magisterial precision the still imperfectly understood truth about Mussolini’s formation as a revolutionary socialist. This is a book that is certain to stimulate discussion on a sensitive and thought-provoking subject.” —Richard Drake, Professor of History, University of Montana