Title: Antifascisms : cultural politics in Italy, 1943-46 : Benedetto Croce and the liberals, Carlo Levi and the "actionists" /
Authors: Ward, David, 1953-
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press,
Year: 1996
Subjects: Croce, Benedetto,; Levi, Carlo,; Associazione Italia libera History.; Partito d'azione (Italy) History.; Anti-fascist movements Italy History; Fascism Italy History; Politics and culture Italy History; Liberalism Italy History; Italy Politics and government; Italy Politics and government
Abstract: This book is an in-depth analysis of three of the most crucial years in twentieth-century Italian history, the years 1943-46. After more than two decades of a Fascist regime and a disastrous war experience during which Italy changed sides, these years saw the laying of the political and cultural foundations for what has since become known as Italy's First Republic. Drawing on texts from the literature, film, journalism, and political debate of the period, Antifascisms offers a thorough survey of the personalities and positions that informed the decisions taken in this crucial phase of modern Italian history.
Contents: Introduction -- Old metaphors, new racisms : Fascism and resistance in the Italy of the early 1990s -- Benedetto Croce : history as the story of liberty. The straight path to antifascism ; "Console us in our suffering" ; Croce and fascism : virus, invasion, vaccination ; The Eliseo speech -- Narratives of conversion. The Tambroni affair and its aftermath ; Roberto Rossellini, Roma, città aperta ; Ignazio Silone : Vino e pane ; From communism to communion ; Aldo Vergano, Il sole sorge ancora ; Carlo Lizzani, Achtung! Banditi ; Giuseppe De Santis, Riso amaro : the project which united us ; Cesare Pavese, Il carcere and La casa in collina ; Italo Calvino, Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno ; Beppe Fenoglio, Una questione privata : the political and the private -- The Action party : fascism as Italy's autobiography. The cultural politics of the Action party ; Giorgio Bassani, "Una lapide in via Mazzini," "Una notte del '43" ; Natalia Ginzburg : bringing up baby -- Carlo Levi : from Croce to Vico. Paura della libertà : Carlo Levi, resistance, and creativity ; Cristo si è fermato a Eboli and L'orologio : Levi and the civil war -- Appendices. Carlo Levi's journalism ; Three articles by Natalia Ginzburg in L'Italia libera ; Note for the Division of Reserved General Affairs.