Richard Bosworth's overview of Italy's role in European and world politics from 1860 to 1960 is lively and iconclastic. Based on a combination of primary research and secondary material he examines Italian diplomacy, military power, commerce, culture, tourism and ideology. His account challenges many aspects of current Italian historiography and offers an original vision of the place of Italy in modern history.

`It would be difficult to imagine a more wittier or stimulating text.' Paul Preston, LSE. Bosworth challenges many aspects of current Italian histor- iography and offers an original and lively vision of the place of Italy in modern history.