Italy’s Divided Memory

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Divided Memory

   • John Foot

   Pages 1-29

3. World War I

   • John Foot

   Pages 31-53

4. Fascist Memories, Memories of Fascism

   • John Foot

   Pages 55-70

5. Italian Wartime Camps, Italians in Wartime Camps

   • John Foot

   Pages 71-95

6. 1940–1943

   • John Foot

   Pages 97-124

7. Nazi Massacres and Divided Memory

   • John Foot

   Pages 125-146

8. The Resistance

   • John Foot

   Pages 147-182

9. The Strategy of Tension and Terrorism

   • John Foot

   Pages 183-203

10. Conclusion: End of the Voyage

    • John Foot

    Pages 205-208

11. Back Matter

    Pages 209-262

    PDF

This book argues that contemporary Italian history has been marked by a tendency towards divided memory. Events have been interpreted in contrasting ways, and the facts themselves often contested. Moreover, with so little agreement over what happened, and why it happened, it has been extremely difficult to create any consensus around memory. These divisions have been seen at all levels, but take on particular importance when linked to the great traumatic and life-changing events of the Twentieth century - war, terrorism, disaster - but can also be applied to more cultural fields such as sport and everyday life. Social change also has an impact on memory. This book will take the form of a voyage through Italy (and into Italy's past), looking at stories of divided memory over various periods in the twentieth century. These stories will be interwoven with analysis and discussion.

• argue
• event
• fascism
• history
• history of literature
• interpret
• Italy
• memory
• methodology
• monument
• resistance
• Terrorism

'A fascinating account of the sometimes grotesque battles to honour or dishonour this or that Fascist or Communist, with politicians on both sides putting up or tearing down plaques and monuments, naming and renaming streets, to suit their version of events.' - London Review of Books

JOHN FOOT is a Professor of Modern Italian History at University College London, UK.

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