John Harpur 2004-12-20

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

This is a very readable book and certainly it kep my attention. The overall tone of the book is revisionist and portrayal of Mussolini is at the least deferential, and at worst hagiographical. Frequently, accounts of Mussolini's ardour, idiosyncracy and zeal obstruct reasoned reflection on the man's immense self-preoccupation, tyranny and caprice. In addition the work as a whole never provides a satisfactory psychological portrait of Mussolini. In fact, the book largely ignores the character of Mussolini as a psychological reality. Instead the reader is treated to a succession of life snippets which are largely laid out unexplored. A strange peculiarity of the work is the exoneration of Mussolini from involvement in the murders of political opponents (e.g. Mateotti, the Rosselli brothers and the Jews in general). Yet the defining characteristic of fascism was its attachment to mob violence and terrorism. The fact is that Mussolini's state was a terrorist derived dictatorship. Citing the results of plebicites as endorsements of fascism carries the same weight as the overwhelming election results acheived by Saddam Hussein. The interpretations are simply ridiculous when set beside the widespread terror networks operated by the blackshirts. Quasi-judicial executions approved by the state's kangaroo military courts, internal exile, and life-threatening harrassment of opponents are generally not the hallmarks of a beign political system. The most insidious aspect of the book, the most dominant one, is the repeated excusing of Mussolini's behaviour and the insinuation of a 'distance' between heineous acts that occurred and Mussolini's responsibility for those acts. To my mind the work lacked any empathy with the victims of fascism and is mired down in a moral miasma as a result. Admiring Mussolini is a bit like admiring the school bully who has manged to assemble an effective group of henchmen. To confuse the efficacy of a group with the moral worth of their behaviour is the ultimate form of decadence. Unfortunately, this book panders to the latter.

John Harpur 2004-12-07

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

This isn't a bad read by any means. It is well written and it held my attention - despite the occasional hagiographical allusions.

What I found most dissatisfying about the book was the lack of psychological analysis and understanding of Mussolini. For instance, his stabbing of several people as a teenager is simply mentioned and ignored. His sexual appetite is almost well regarded, despite his own admissions to sexual violence against women. Mussolini's early adulthood in destitution in Austria is presented reasonably well but the reader is still left wondering how on Earth did the man garner positions of influence? Unfortunately, the text doesn't help out here and ultimately I end up with a 'stick figure' psychological grasp of Mussolini.

Likewise the interrelationship between Mussolini and the growth of early fascism is presented loosely. Over reliance on Mussolini's journalistic pronouncements does little to shed any light on the tactical development and organisation of the fascisti and the Duce himself (and his many incompetencies). In my own judgment the presentation of the formative political development of Mussolini was uneven and almost accidental.

The treatment of the Axis alliance and Mussolini's insecurity with the Nazis - leading him to oscillate between cloying sycophancy and revulsion - is relatively unilluminating. In many ways, this is also the weakeness of the text. Although it is easy to read, no mean skill, it is also dramatically and psychologically flaccid. There is little in the book that is new or startling. Arguing that Mussolini wasn't 'all bad' is not innovative and at this remove not particularly controversial. Whether one take to the book or not, may well be conditioned by prior knowledge of Mussolini and the horrendous suffering he brought to Italy.

2004-08-07

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

At last a book that finally tells the truth about Mussolini and fascism. The vast majority of Italians loved the man and enjoyed living under the 'Third Way'. He greatly improved the standard of living for many poor Southern Italians. This book also shows the quandry Mussolini found himself in in 1940; France had fallen and the British were evacuating from Dunkirk; if he had turned against Germany and joined the Allies, Hitler would have invaded Italy immediately.

This book also shows the hypocrisy of statesmen such as Anthony Eden who refused to contemplate any idea of Italy having any colonies whilst at the time the British owned most of the world. No wonder he was pelted with rotten tomatoes when he came to Italy. (He is still a hate figure even today in Italy) It is so interesting to also read how WWII might have been avoided if Hitler had not been appeased so many times before 1939.

This book should educate people that although Mussolini and Hitler were allies, they had very little in common and the former should not be tainted by the actions of the latter. Mussolini's big mistake was to enter a war on what would ultimately be the losing side; but he also knew that if Hitler were to win the war, it could mean Italy becoming a satellite state for Germany. Wonder what Churchill would have done in his position?

James Mackintosh 2004-06-14

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Nicholas Farrell's 'new life' on Mussolini is indeed a refreshingly 'new' appraisal of the man, his achievements and his failures. Farrell presents Mussolini as a dictator/politician who avoided most of the excesses of dictatorship and was as a result immensely popular with the Italian people for his achievements until the last few years when fatally he dragged Italy into the war. Farrell's theory is that if, like Franco, Mussolini had kept out of the war, he would have survived, like Franco, and history would have viewed him in a much kinder light.
The book is packed with details that interest and inform, for the most part it is written in a way that compels you to turn the pages and at its best reads like a thriller, for example the chapter on The Duce's betrayal by his closest colleagues entitled 'The Last Supper'. Farrell's excellent analysis of fascism as 'The Third Way' between socialism and capitalism reveals just why it had such popular appeal in the turmoil after the first world war.
The book is bound to provoke as it shows more sympathy to the dictator than is 'politically correct' but Farrell sets out the case why logically and consistently and forces us to re-examine our viewpoint and that demonstrates the book's merits.
For myself, I agree with Churchill's analysis that Mussolini's fatal character flaw was displayed in joining forces with Hitler and also with Farrell's comments that fascism probably would have ossified and become a spent force (cf Franco's Spain).
A thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read!!

2004-05-08

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Nicholas Farrell's 'new life' on Mussolini is indeed a refreshingly 'new' appraisal of the man, his achievements and his failures. Farrell presents Mussolini as a dictator/politician who avoided most of the excesses of dictatorship and was as a result immensely popular with the Italian people for his achievements until the last few years when fatally he dragged Italy into the war. Farrell's theory is that if, like Franco, Mussolini had kept out of the war, he would have survived, like Franco, and history would have viewed him in a much kinder light.
The book is packed with details that interest and inform, for the most part it is written in a way that compels you to turn the pages and at its best reads like a thriller, for example the chapter on The Duce's betrayal by his closest colleagues entitled 'The Last Supper'. Farrell's excellent analysis of fascism as 'The Third Way' between socialism and capitalism reveals just why it had such popular appeal in the turmoil after the first world war.
The book is bound to provoke as it shows more sympathy to the dictator than is 'politically correct' but Farrell sets out the case why logically and consistently and forces us to re-examine our viewpoint and that demonstrates the book's merits.
For myself, I agree with Churchill's analysis that Mussolini's fatal character flaw was displayed in joining forces with Hitler and also with Farrell's comments that fascism probably would have ossified and become a spent force (cf Franco's Spain).
A thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read!!