Milan since the Miracle

by John Foot

This book is the first comprehensive post-war history of one of Europe's most vibrant cities throughout an extraordinary period of social, cultural and economic change. The capital of Italy's economic miracle of the 1950s and 60s, Milan was a magnet for immigrants, as industry, design and culture created a heady mix of wealth, innovation and conflict. By the 1980s, heavy industry had all but disappeared and the city had reinvented itself as the world capital of fashion and a dynamic post-industrial metropolis. Meanwhile, the urban landscape was darkened by the bleak estates of the peripheries and the corruption scandals that exploded in what became known as 'Tangentopoli', or Bribesville. This fascinating book traces Milan's 'biography' through its buildings, design, fashion, cinema, families, immigrants and television. The city emerges as a potent economic power-house and laboratory for change, where art and culture converge in a modern but problematic urban space. Anyone interested in Italian history, urban studies or the future of Europe's cities will find this book an essential read.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Stephen Morrissey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting if a bit dry take on post-Second World War Milan and the political, cultural, and social forces that have shaped the city into the engine of the Italian economy. Foot's analysis tends towards the academic side, investigating the cultural images of Milan through the years and how different populations interact between the core of the city and the periphery. There are few English-language books on Milanese history, and even fewer on modern history, which makes this book, despite its flaws, valuable for anyone interested in, travelling to, or curious about one of Europe's great cities.