I Belong Only to Myself: The Life and Writings of Leda Rafanelli

by Andrea Pakieser (editor)

Leda Rafanelli was one of the most prolific propagandists in early twentieth-century Italy. A comrade of Benito Mussolini before he turned fascist, she converted to anarchism and Islam at the age of twenty, a combination characteristic of her iconoclastic approach to life and politics. Weaving excerpts from Rafanelli's novels, poems, and essays with extensive biographical research, this book tells the story of the insurrections accompanying the birth of the Italian nation, the evolution of the anarchist movement, struggles for alternatives to bourgeois feminism, and the dangers faced by those opposing global war and fascism. Andrea Pakieser is a writer and translator currently at the University of Paris.

Genres: Feminism, Biography, Politics, Nonfiction, Memoir

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2014

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leda Rafanelli is so dreamy. Rafanelli was an eclectic character, an individualist anarchist, Muslim, "feminilist," fantastic dresser and okay poet to boot! This biography is organized around the various aspects of her unique personality and beliefs, showcasing her ideologies alongside historical events (she was dating Mussolini before he was a fascist), but also interspersing her prose, poetry, and 'propaganda' of this fascinating compagni.

Here's a picture, just for good measure.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was unexpectedly delightful. I know little about Italian anarchists in history and knew nothing about Leda Rafanelli before AK sent this book along. Anyone who is interested in turn of the last century leftists, Italian history, obscure social justice fiction writers, or just radical bohemian women who tried to carve out their own life - despite expectations - will likely enjoy this.

[Marybeth Bonfiglio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating translation - and commentary on such a little-known writer, propagandist, paradox of a woman. I wanted to read Italian woman writers who were observing and writing during the rise of fascism - Rafanelli really was a voice of her times. And Pakieser does a great job of putting all her works together in one book - potent examining and reflecting.

[Fortuna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent introductory text to the thought and works of Rafanelli, particularly regarding her views on colonialism, anarchism, and religion, though it remains a bit too introductory. Was hoping for something a bit deeper. Would still recommend to anyone interested in learning about her - the archival work done for the book clearly shows dedication and a passion for the subject.

[Lorenzo Else · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not the kind of book I’d typically pick up to read—though I do like biographies, I read the book because I know the author/editor.

One of the reasons the author/editor wrote the book was to have “…the conversations and discussions surrounding promotional activities to be as inspiring and enlightening as the process of researching and working out the book itself.” She can definitely chalk this one off the list. I’m an educated man but in the course of reading this book—I had to revisit innumerable topics that “I thought I knew” only to find that the Americanized version of this rich history as presented in the 60s—was severely deficient.

The reading was marvelous. I loved the way Leda’s story was intertwined within the commentary on the historical activities of the time. One of the things I really grew to appreciate was the editor’s precision with defining terms and activities in the historical context of the times—so to speak, used the terms and explanation of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It took me two to three times as long to read this book—as the intrigue spun within the book lead me on my own journeys to learn more about the person and her times. The journey to engage in a new examination of concepts like ‘propaganda’, the effect of literacy, the elevation of the concept of equality for women into her newly coined phrase of ‘feminility’, tons of historical references to the politics of Italy along with significant European events—and all turned out to be worthy jaunts.

I am sooooooo glad I read this book. Bravo Andrea!!!

Lorenzo Else

I Belong Only to Myself: The Life and Writings of Leda Rafanelli

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Belong Only to Myself does well in contextualizing Leda Rafanelli's writing within the political landscape of early 20th century Western Europe. I appreciate the author's honesty in her acknowledgement of inconsistencies in Leda's beliefs and how coming of age in colonial-era Italy inevitably coloured her views on the Middle East and North Africa as a convert to Islam. This book is by no means a comprehensive collection of Leda's writing (if such a thing could exist), but definitely furthered my understanding Italian leftism in the early 1900's. I would recommend it to anyone looking to better understand the role of narrative and fiction in political writing.