Mussolini

Was Mussolini really the power-crazed cynic that many see him as? Was he a true revolutionary? Although he could be both ruthless and opportunistic, Benito Mussolini was also driven by ideology and his desire to make Italy great. But conservative forces in the Italian establishment and factional warfare in his own fascist party were stumbling blocks to his policy, and ultimately Italy never became as fascist as Mussolini would have liked. Peter Neville presents a new assessment of the life and times of the famous leader. This study places the fascist movement in its historical context and assesses its theoretical base. Neville examines young Mussolini's formative influences, his turn away from socialism by 1914, his regime, foreign policy and his historical legacy. Clear and engaging, this survey is key to the understanding of one of the most fascinating twentieth-century European dictators.