Thoroughly researched and paced like a thriller, the pope and mussolini demonstrates the complicit approval the papacy gave to mussolini s fascist regime. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Apr 23, 2015 one of the many virtues of david kertzers the pope and mussolini is that it reframes the discussion by shifting attention away from world war ii and looking closely at the papacy of pius xiis predecessor, pius xi, who became pope in 1922, the year that benito mussolini came to power, and died in early 1939, several months before hitler. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including reports from mussolinis spies inside the highest levels of the church, will forever change our. The book tells the gripping story of pope pius xis secret relations with italian dictator benito mussolini. A groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives by us national book awardfinalist david kertzer, it will forever change our understanding of the vaticans role in.
David kertzer, whose book won the pulitzer prize, is an authority on jewish church history, and includes in his riveting account the prevalence of antijewish. The secret history of pius xi and the rise of fascism in europe is a 2014 pulitzer prize winner biography of pope pius xi about his relations with benito mussolini and rise of fascism in europe by david kertzer. The pope and mussolini is a riveting account of the parallel rise to power of the authoritarian scholarly vatican librarian who became pope pius xi and the narcissistic son of a socialist blacksmith. David kertzer, former provost of brown university, talks about his book, the pope and mussolini, in which he examines the relationship between pope pius xi and italian dictator benito mussolini. Thoroughly researched and paced like a thriller, the pope and mussolini demonstrates the complicit approval the papacy gave to mussolinis fascist regime. The pope and mussolini is a fascinating mustread for anyone interested in history who would like to learn more about the backstory of the origins of fascism and the role of the catholic church in the early to mid20th century. When the pulitzer prizes were announced this week, the award for biography went to david kertzer for his book the pope and mussolini.
The stunning story of these two powerful men unfolds in the pope and mussolini. David kertzers nuanced book investigates an unholy alliance between fascism and the catholic church. In most respects, they could not have been more different. The compelling story of pope pius xis secret relations with benito mussolini. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including reports from mussolinis spies inside the highest levels of the church, will forever. As david i kertzer points out in his important and pictureresetting new book the pope and mussolini, both his main characters came to power in the same year. David kertzer on his book the pope and mussolini youtube. Pulitzer prize winner named one of the best books of the year by san francisco chronicle from national book award finalist david i. The pope and mussolini the secret history of pius xi and the rise of fascism in europe by david i. Yet pope pius xi and italian dictator benito mussolini had many things in common, and each relied on the other to consolidate his power and. Vivid, dramatic, with surprises at every turn, the pope and mussolini is history writ large and with the lightning hand of truth. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including. The vaticans alliance with mussolini has long been controversial. Pope pius xi and the speech that was never made is an english translation published in 2011 of a book first published in 2007 by emma fattorini, professor of modern history at the university of rome this is a 2011 translation of a book first published in 2007 by emma fattorini, professor of modern history at the university of rome.
Pope and mussolini tells the secret history of fascism and the church historian david kertzer says the catholic church lent strength and legitimacy to mussolinis fascist regime. Since the if there is a totalitarian regime in fact and by right it is the regime of the church, because man belongs totally to the church. David kertzer book claims mussolini and the pope were allies, not enemies. The secret history of pius xi and the rise of fascism in europe by david i. May 05, 2014 david kertzer, professor of anthropology and italian studies at brown university and faculty fellow at the watson institute, on why you should read his book, the pope and mussolini. Jan 28, 2014 pulitzer prize winner named one of the best books of the year by san francisco chronicle from national book award finalist david i. Click download or read online button to get the pope and mussolini book now. Pope and mussolini tells the secret history of fascism npr.
It also reveals the details of the secret agreement worked out by mussolini with the popes personal envoy, offering vatican support for italys notorious, antisemitic racial laws. The secret history of pius xi and the rise of fascism in. Kertzer has 36 books on goodreads with 170 ratings. The pope and mussolini is a damning account of vatican complicity in the rise of fascism, not out of cowardice or hypocrisy but in the name of principle. David kertzer, professor of anthropology and italian studies at brown university and faculty fellow at the watson institute, on why you should read his book, the. A fastpaced historical narrative explores just how far the catholic church went in collaborating with italys. The book unravels for the first time the key role played between pope and dictator by the shadowy jesuit gobetween, dubbed mussolinis rasputin. This book is a history of the relationship between pope pius xi and benito mussolini, anchored around the lateran accord of 1929, which made peace between the italian government and the papacy and which helped legitimate mussolinis fascist regime. When pope john paul ii first announced the opening of pius xis archives, what made you think there might be an untold story buried inside.
Those who knew the pope called him a block of granite and cold as marble. So the pope and mussolini begins with a prologue which i am delighted that brandeis magazine is reprinting here that transports the reader back to these last days of pius xi. David kertzer, professor of anthropology and italian studies at brown university and faculty fellow at the watson institute, on why you should. Backed with an extensive bibliography and footnotes, kertzer has distilled seven years of intensive research into a work of nonfiction that reads like a spy thriller. The pope and mussolini is david kertzers fascinating account of the secret dealings between the italian dictator and pius xi. Kertzer is unflinching and relentless in his exposure of the vaticans shocking actions. Mussolini had shown no signs in his early career of wanting to revive the catholic churchs fortunes in fact as he started off as a socialist, the opposite was true. This is a meticulously researched and crafted book, exquisitely written, fresh, mesmerizing, and enlightening. The pope who tried by alexander stille the new york.
One was scholarly and devout, the other thuggish and profane. Join david kertzer for a discussion of his 2015 pulitzer prize winning book, the pope and mussolini. Once a radical opponent of both capitalism and the church, by the time he took power mussolini had begun to transform himselfand the fascist movementinto a defender of property, public order, and established religion. Jan 28, 2014 the pope and mussolini the secret history of pius xi and the rise of fascism in europe. The pope and mussolini is the natural sequel to the authors preceding studies of the catholic churchs. Jan 28, 2014 the pope and mussolini tells the story of two remarkable men, achille ratti, pope pius xi, and benito mussolini, duce of fascism. From the outset of his new book, kertzer deftly reconstructs the parallel lives of achille ratti, who became pius xi, and of benito mussolini, both.
It is the story of pope pius xis relations with italian dictator benito mussolini, based on archival material from. He is the author of twelve books, including the pope and mussolini, winner of the 2015 pulitzer prize for biography and the american historical association prize for best book on italian history, and the kidnapping of edgardo mortara, a finalist for the national book award in 1997. May 11, 2015 the pope and mussolini tells the story of two men who came to power in 1922, and together changed the course of twentiethcentury history. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including reports from mussolinis spies inside the highest levels of the church, will forever change our understanding of the vaticans role. One of the many virtues of david kertzers the pope and mussolini is that it reframes the discussion by shifting attention away from world war ii and looking closely at the papacy of pius xiis predecessor, pius xi, who became pope in 1922, the year that benito mussolini came to power, and died in early 1939, several months before hitler. It also reveals the details of the secret agreement worked out by mussolini with the popes personal envoy, offering vatican support for. Pulitzer prize winner named one of the best books of the year by san francisco chronicle from national book award finalist. Advance praise for the pope and mussolini david kertzer has an eye for a story, an ear for the right word, and an instinct for human tragedy.
Kertzer comes the gripping story of pope pius xis secret relations with italian dictator benito mussolini. The pope and mussolini tells the story of two men who came to power in 1922, and together changed the course of 20thcentury history. The pope and mussolini npr coverage of the pope and mussolini. James carroll, national book awardwinning author of constantines sword. He has twice been awarded the marraro prize from the society for italian historical studies for the best book on italian history and in 2005 was elected to membership in the american association of arts and sciences. Kevin madigan, winn professor of ecclesiastical history, harvard university the pope and mussolini tells the story of two remarkable men, achille ratti, pope pius xi, and benito mussolini, duce of fascism. Pulitzer prize winner from national book award finalist david i. A capstone on david kertzers already crucial work, the pope and mussolini carefully and eloquently advances the painful but necessary truth of vatican failure to meet its greatest moral test. Apr 24, 2015 pope and mussolini tells the secret history of fascism and the church historian david kertzer says the catholic church lent strength and legitimacy to mussolinis fascist regime. The pope found a new and somewhat surprising partner when benito mussolini became prime minister in october 1922. The pope and mussolini tells the story of two remarkable men, achille ratti, pope pius xi, and benito mussolini, duce of fascism. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including reports from mussolinis spies.
The vatican, il duce and the jews brandeis magazine. This groundbreaking work, based on seven years of research in the vatican and fascist archives, including reports from mussolinis spies inside. In other words, the book begins with a glimpse of the end of my story, or almost the end, for i could not stop before telling something of where all this led. Hitlers pope is a book published in 1999 by the british journalist and author john cornwell that examines the actions of eugenio pacelli, who became pope pius xii, before and during the nazi era, and explores the charge that he assisted in the legitimization of adolf hitlers nazi regime in germany, through the pursuit of a reichskonkordat in 1933. The book examined documentary evidence from the vatican archives, arguing that pope pius xi played a significant role in supporting the rise of fascism and benito mussolini in italy, but not of nazism in germany. Kertzers most popular book is the pope and mussolini. Sep 10, 2014 the pope found a new and somewhat surprising partner when benito mussolini became prime minister in october 1922. Even mussolinis suppression of the popes darling catholic action youth groups did not fray collaboration between them to marginalize italian protestants and jews, until pius grew ill and it was too late to change course.
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