MUSSOLINI

Rating:
Summary: Historical, or historically biased?
Review: I agree this book is definitely one sided and skewed. Mussolini was not a saint, however this book fails to mention any other aspect of his life, other than that of disturbed Hitler sidekick. The fact remains that Benito Mussolini was a leader in his own right. Many other biographies show his ability to make people have pride, and the 'mighty' Adolph Hitler twitch. look elsewhere for facts.

Rating:
Summary: Historically flawed look at Mussolini
Review: I'm sorry but after having spent the last 6 years in Italy studying Italian politics and Mussolini circa 1910-1950 I am obligated after having read this book to denounce it as a poorly researched overly biased work and it is pitiful to see this attempt to present the Authors anti mussolini anti Italian views as an historically accurate look at Mussolini by claiming to be his official biographer.

I'm sorry but this book is a piece of garbage, if you really objectively want to find out the truth about Mussolini you won't find it here - but you will find the it in Anthony James book the title of which is simply called "Mussolini".

Rating:
Summary: Still the Best
Review: Other, later scholars have added a little here and there, but D. Mack Smith's biography of Mussolini is still definitive. It's a very insightful study of Il Duce's personality and psychology, backed up by impressive research and written in a very incisive, pungent style. Its only flaw is that it neglects to investigate very deeply the ideology and political structures of Italian fascism; but since Smith had already discussed these matters in his earlier, equally masterly book "Mussolini's Roman Empire", this lapse is forgivable. In fact, one would do well to read this biography in conjunction with Smith's earlier study to get a complete view of fascist Italy.

One more point: Readers should be aware that the "James" book recommended by a previous reviewer (from Japan) in place of Mack Smith's is a negligible, pro-fascist work dismissed by all reputable scholars in the field (but lauded by the so-called Institute for Historical Review, a Holocaust-denying propaganda organization). Stick with Mack Smith.