My Life

by Giuseppe Garibaldi, Tim Parks (Foreword)

Translated for the first time into English from Garibaldi’s original manuscripts, these memoirs provide an authentic reading of the life and times of one of the most remarkable figures in history. The life of Giuseppe Garibaldi—distinguished by superhuman courage, personal tragedy, and tireless struggle in the name of freedom—has remained a source of fascination for generations. In this engrossing first-person narrative, Garibaldi charts his extraordinary adventures, from his early seafaring exploits and his flight to South America, to his return to Italy as a conquering general. Now in its first English translation, My Life reveals all of Garibaldi’s strength of character, his visionary outlook, and his unfailing idealism. Adventurer, reformer, military figure, and novelist, Giuseppe Garibaldi was a hero of the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1860

About the author

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and afterward returned to Italy as a commander in the conflicts of the Risorgimento. He has been dubbed the "Hero of the Two Worlds" in tribute to his military expeditions in both South America and Europe. He is considered an Italian national hero.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autobiography of Garibaldi's struggle for Italian unification. He was a revolutionary nationalist who wanted a republic but realised that he would need the support of the monarchy in order to achieve a united nation.
He had the ability to unite ordinary people into a formidable fighting force. His popularity, motivational skills and military acumen were essential in achieving unification.
Some parts of the book can be rather dull with too much information on battles and tactics but it is an extremely modest account of a truly remarkable life.
There is little of his personal life with the book concentrating on his career after he had fought for the liberal forces in the Uruguyan civil war.
At 160 pages Garibaldi omitted many of his exploits & achievements, but it is a valuable insight into a great national hero.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars

A solid account but for a man of his stature his writing is unremarkable and drawn-out in places, however the account is interspersed with some touching reflections that bring out his lofty idealism

[Geert · Rating 3 out of 5]

the style is too pompous for today, although it reads like a pirate novel - maybe too much so

[Paolo Ventura · Rating 1 out of 5]

mah.... leggere i tre moschettieri (forse) sarebbe stato meglio;
...il livello ("romanzesco" quasi picaresco) è quello

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«O primavera, gioventù dell’anno! o gioventù primavera della vita!», ha detto Metastasio. Io aggiungerò: come tutto diventa bello al sole della gioventù della primavera!
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L’apostolo cominciò col dimostrarmi che l’uomo, quando difende la sua patria o quando attacca un altro paese, non è che un soldato, ammirevole nella prima ipotesi, ingiusto nella seconda; ma che l’uomo il quale, facendosi cosmopolita, offre la sua spada e il suo sangue a ogni popolo che lotta contro la tirannide, è più di un soldato, è un eroe.
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Ebbene, se non si può essere poeti che a condizione di comporre l’Iliade, la Divina Commedia, le Meditazioni di Lamartine, o le Orientali di Victor Hugo, io non sono poeta; ma se per esserlo basta passare intere ore a cercare nell’acqua azzurra e profonda i misteri della vegetazione sottomarina o restare in estasi dinanzi alla baia di Rio Janeiro, di Napoli o di Costantinopoli; se basta sognare una tenerezza filiale, le rimembranze infantili o gli amori dell’adolescenza in mezzo alle fucilate o alle palle di cannone senza riflettere che il vostro sogno potrebbe finire con la testa fracassata o un braccio monco, allora io sono poeta.
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Ma la scienza della guerra, la disciplina, il coraggio, l’attacco impetuoso, tutto dovette cedere dinanzi al valore dei nostri soldati, sebbene fossero giovani e poco esperti. E questo perché Garibaldi era là, sulla sella del cavallo, con i capelli al vento, come la statua bronzea del dio delle battaglie.
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Garibaldi, dotato di una semplicità patriarcale così grande che si direbbe quasi simulata, somiglia piuttosto al capo di una tribù indiana che a un generale. Ma quando il pericolo si avvicina ed è imminente, allora è veramente ammirevole per il coraggio e il colpo d’occhio. Quello che potrebbe mancargli come scienza strategica secondo le regole dell’arte militare è sostituito da una meravigliosa forza.
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[Filippo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting description of the facts, very heartfelt and full of details, but perhaps a little rhetoric. Unfortunately, the overall view of the facts and the historical context is not at all clear

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75