Mussolini: History in an Hour

History In An Hour

by Rupert Colley

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour.

‘Il Duce’, Benito Mussolini, was one of the key figures in the creation of fascism. Famed for his dictatorial style, his political cunning and admired – initially – by Hitler, Mussolini led the National Fascist Party and ruled Italy as Prime Minister from 1922 until his ousting in 1943. In so doing, he paved the way towards Italy’s defeat in World War Two, and some of the 20th century’s most destructive ideologies and practices.

Following expulsion from Italian Socialist Party, Mussolini denounced all efforts of class conflict, and instead later commanded a Fascist March on Rome to become the youngest Prime Minister in Italian history. Thereafter he set about dismantling the apparatus of democracy and initiated what would become known as the one-party totalitarian state. With World War II came defeat, humiliation and his bloody deposing. Explaining his ideologies, policies, actions and flaws, ‘ History in an Hour’ is the concise life of the man whose ideas helped create some of the worst horrors of the modern history.

Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour…

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2014

About the author

Founder, writer and Series Editor of History In An Hour (http://historyinanhour.com), owned by HarperCollins UK, and now author of two novels.

The first, "My Brother the Enemy", a novella, is set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

The second, "This Time Tomorrow", set during and following World War One, is a compelling story of war, brotherly love, passion and betrayal.

My third novel, "The Black Maria", is set in Moscow in 1935, the height of Stalin's reign, about love crushed by the machine.

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was a dictator and the leader of the National Fascist Party In Italy, which in turn caused the rise of Fascism in Italy. This book deals with almost all important events from his life in a concise manner. He was the person who told some ridiculous statements like, "Christmas reminds only of the birth of a Jew who gave to the world debilitating and devitalizing theories, and who especially contrived to trick Italy through the disintegrating power of the Popes." He even prohibited newspapers from mentioning Christmas. Even though Mussolini did some good things too, like building roads, bridges, buildings, and he remade many parts of Italy, History will remember him for his controversial methods and mistakes he made during his Fascist rule over Italy.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect length book to learn more about this horrible human being and the role he played in history.

[Elline Pelline]

Learning about the leaders of our history helps extremely much to get another view on today's world.

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krótka wycieczka do Włoch no i urlop w Chorwacji zainspirował mnie do sięgnięcia po tą pozycje. Okazuje się że półwysep Istria należący do Chorwacji po Pierwszej Wojnie Światowej aż do powstania komunistycznej Jugosławii po Drugiej Wojnie Światowej należał do faszystowskich Włoch. Ten krótki okres pozostawił po sobie ślad gdzie wiele budynków w samym centrum miasta Puli właśnie została wybudowana w stylu architektonicznym charakterystycznym dla faszystowskich Włoch. El duce pozostawił po sobie ślad nawet w dzisiejszej Chorwacji. To mnie zaintrygowało, postanowiłem bliżej poznać tą postać historyczną.
Musolini rozpoczynał swoją karierę polityczną jako socjalista, mocno wyznawał ideologie socjalizmu. Później dopiero przefarbował się na faszyste, poczuł potrzebę połączenia idei socjalistycznej z rządzeniem silną ręką. Musolini był bezwzględny względem swoich przeciwników politycznych. Doszedł do władzy krótko po Pierwszej Wojnie Światowej na początku lat dwudziestych. Hitler zazdrościł mu tak szybkiego wdrożenia władzy faszystowskiej. Jednak panowie Hitler i Mussolini na początku długo nie darzyli się sympatią. Mussolini niechętnie wdrażał też politykę antysemityzmu, niechętnie poświęcał swoje wojsko, zasoby faszystowskiego państwa Włoch w działania wojenne. Polityka gospodarcza Mussoliniego nie przynosiła również wielkiej poprawy w życie zwykłych ludzi. Mussolini został obalony przez Włochów, skończył tragicznie. Włosi dokonali na nim samosądu.
Cieszę się że odkryłem serie „History in an hour”. Stopniowo będę sięgał po kolejne części tej serii.

[Philip Battle · Rating 3 out of 5]

.....fascinating what a little dictatorship can do! ***THREE STARS***

[Lovisa ✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vidrigare man får man leta efter...

[Luis Brudna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiquei surpreso em ver como o autor conseguiu contar uma história tão interessante em tão poucas páginas. Fascinante.

[Mikael Cerbing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Enough to get a general feel for the asshole and Italy during his time. For such a short book, very good.

[counter-hegemonicon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite effective at representing the incoherence of fascism and capitalists in socialist garb

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sufficient overview of Mussolini's life and time in power. Like other books from the 'history in an hour' series it is brief and to the point. If you are searching for detailed academic discussion and evaluation, you will not find it here, it is merely a factual overview, which acts as a sufficient text if you are not acquainted with the topic or want to revisit the events discussed.

[Kevin Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read... Good information.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of info in such a short tome. Lots of facts and trivia in a mix that keeps it from being dry and enough to make it informative in a serious way. Well worth the price and more than enough info to form an independent opinion of the man. Also... Enough info to see parallels to some very recent events.

[Aaron Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice summary and an easy read. Definitely learned some new things about Mussolini and made me want to read more about him.