Mussolini's Italy is a brilliant exposition of Mussolini’s Italy that deserves a place of honor on every history addict’s bookshelf.

Mussolini often does not get the blame he deserves for being the model on which the scourge of World War II, Hitler, based his reign of terror. With the stench of the crematoriums still wafting through our imaginations, it is easy to overlook the fact that Mussolini began his dismantling of Italy in 1922. Before his own rise to psychotic power, Hitler idolized the man who came to be known as Il Duce.

With bombastic abandon, Mussolini rose to power in much the same as Hitler was to do later. He lied his way into power, telling the people what he though they wanted to hear with no regard for his lack of intention to follow through on his promises. With a vain glorious arrogance, he manipulated events to bring about his dreams of a “New Roman Empire.” When events proved impossible to manipulate, he twisted the media into reporting what he wanted the Italian people to know.

With astonishing devotion to historical accuracy and obvious dedication to research, Bosworth has created a classic piece of literature. The wealth of information could easily overwhelm even the most seasoned writer, but in Bosworth’s hands, the facts and figures are so well-balanced as to provide an impartial and easily readable work of art. There are not enough superlatives to do this book justice.