La Grande Italia: The Myth of the Nation in the 20th Century

La Grande Italia examines the evolution of Italian national identity and nationalism from the late 19th century through the end of World War II. The book traces how political and cultural forces shaped competing visions of Italy's destiny as a great nation. Through extensive research and analysis of primary sources, Gentile explores the development of Italian myths, symbols and ideologies across different regimes and periods. The work focuses particularly on how Italian leaders and intellectuals conceived of Italy's place in the world and its cultural mission. The narrative covers major historical events including the Risorgimento, World War I, the rise of Fascism, and World War II. Gentile examines both official state propaganda and grassroots expressions of nationalism during these transformative decades. At its core, this study reveals how national myths can profoundly shape a country's trajectory and how competing interpretations of national identity can drive historical events. The book offers insights into the broader relationship between nationalism, modernization, and political power.

Readers describe La Grande Italia as a detailed examination of Italian nationalism and myth-making through the 20th century. Several reviewers note Gentile's thorough research and academic rigor. Liked: - Documentation of how Italian leaders constructed national identity - Analysis of fascism's relationship with Italian nationalism - Inclusion of primary sources and period materials Disliked: - Dense academic writing style makes the text challenging - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited coverage of regional/local perspectives Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: No English edition reviews available Most reviews come from academic journals rather than consumer sites. Multiple scholarly reviewers note the book fills an important gap in English-language scholarship on Italian nationalism, though one reviewer in the Journal of Modern History critiqued Gentile's focus on elite political figures rather than broader cultural movements.

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🔹 The author, Emilio Gentile, is considered one of the world's foremost scholars on Italian Fascism and was among the first historians to describe fascism as a form of "political religion." 🔹 The book explores how the concept of "La Grande Italia" (Great Italy) evolved from a Romantic dream of Italian patriots in the 19th century to a powerful nationalist myth that would later be exploited by Mussolini's fascist regime. 🔹 The work demonstrates how Italian nationalism transformed from a liberal, inclusive movement in the Risorgimento period to an aggressive, expansionist ideology under fascism - a shift that occurred over less than a century. 🔹 Despite focusing on Italy, the book provides valuable insights into how national myths are created, maintained, and manipulated across cultures - making it relevant for understanding nationalist movements worldwide. 🔹 The book was originally published in Italian as "La Grande Italia: Il Mito della Nazione nel XX Secolo" (2006) before being translated into English, and significantly contributed to the academic understanding of how fascism used pre-existing national narratives.