For almost all nations, the First World War was an unparalleled disaster, but the Italian experience especially was to have catastrophic consequences. This title aims to bring to life the period when Italians participated in a vast and ultimately ruinous political experiment under their dictator, Benito Mussolini, and his fascist henchmen.

Richard Bosworth is one of the world¿s leading writers on Fascist Italy whose life of Mussolini is the definitive account in English. He is Professor of History at the University of Western Australia.