Italy and its Monarchy

by Denis Mack Smith

Written by one of the world's leading historians of Italy, this provocative and highly readable book is the first major study of the Italian monarchy and its impact on Italy's history, from Unification in 1861 to the foundation of the Italian republic after the Second World War. "Brilliant, . . . remarkable, . . . highly entertaining. . . . Only Mack Smith could have told what is finally so shabby a story with this combination of learning and bravura."―Nicholas Richardson, Sunday Times "A brilliant narrative history of the political role of the kings of Italy. It is based on an immense range of sources."―Philip Mansel, Daily Telegraph "Mack Smith is the leading writer in English on nineteenth- and twentieth-century Italian history. . . . [He] has now written a study of the Italian monarchy that subjects the four kings of united Italy to [. . . a] . . . debunking treatment. He shows how indispensable the monarchy was for the working of the Italian political system, but also how it was ultimately disastrous."―James Joll, New York Review of Books "A welcome addition to libraries in the English-speaking world. . . . Denis Mack Smith shows masterful command of political and diplomatic sources and balanced historical judgment."―Clara M. Lovett, American Historical Review "A book to be read and enjoyed. It is urbane [and] stylish."―Richard Bosworth, International History Review

Genres: Italy, History, Nonfiction

413 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

Denis Mack Smith was an English historian.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it over? Is it truly over?

Tedious, drudging and very boring. An entire month and ten days trying to digest this. I almost cannot believe I managed to finish it. The things one does for the sake of research I tell you.

I was expecting something akin to a juicy scandal or information about the Savoys alas all I got was a lot of politics, which might interest someone else, but it wasn't what I was looking for.

It drove me bonkers that the author mentioned last names randomly, without context or the actual full name so you knew who the hell he was talking about. Wikipedia was my friend here. It would’ve been more practical to have at the beginning of the book a cast of characters so you know who was who.

Basically, the reason the House of Savoy is no longer in power is because they didn't prepare the heirs at all. All they knew how to be were military men and not a one had a clue about how to govern. Whenever I read any of these royal fuck ups (like seriously Mussolini shouldn't have lasted more than a few weeks), it made me want to jump back in time and knock some sense into them.

The author did the best he could to present an unbiased study of the Savoys and their policies but it didn't stop it from being a complete drag to read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, but sometimes dry, history of the Italian constitutional monarchy. Assumes a working knowledge of the outlines of modern Italian history, and sometimes gets bogged down in the details of government ministers. But I don't think there is any similar resource in English.

If anyone has any pro-monarchial feelings, this book will probably cure you of them. The Savoys were awful Kings.

[John]

This book is not about the four kings of Italy from the Risorgimento to the end off WWII when Italy became a republic. Rather it is a straight political history of this period with the kings thrown in now and again.

[Montecristo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titolo ingannevole, o meglio ingannevole nella versione italiana dato che l'opera originale si intitola "Italy and its monarchy". Infatti questa non è una biografia della casa regnante dei Savoia, quanto piuttosto un resoconto della storia politica dell'Italia monarchica dal 1861 al 1946. Manca quindi completamente tutto quello che ci si aspetta da una biografia su una famiglia reale, nessun accenno alla vita privata di re e regine, ai loro caratteri, le loro inclinazioni e passioni, i matrimoni, gli amori, le alleanze o il rapporto con i sudditi.
Un grave errore a mio avviso intitolare in questo modo l'opera nella versione italiana in quanto trae completamente in inganno il lettore che si aspetta di trovarsi tra le mani tutt'altro tipo di libro.
Giudicando invece l'opera secondo l'intento per la quale è stata scritta dall'autore, essa risulta abbastanza scorrevole e interessante, anche se in fin dei conti dovendo riassumere quasi un secolo di avvenimenti è inevitabilmente frettolosa in alcuni punti (tanto per citarne uno, l'assassinio di Umberto I si riduce ad una misera citazione di una riga, per evidenziare una volta di più quanto questa non sia assolutamente una biografia sui Savoia).

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denis Mack Smith was a very fine mid twentieth century historian of Italy - particularly post unification and was responsible for dragging English readers out of some very out of date views on the course and developments of that country's history and politics. As such he is an excellent writer to put the house of Savoy and its rulers into some perspective, one that was very much needed as of all the ruling dynasties of continental Europe the House of Savoy is probably the worst served in terms of works available in English. If you want a history of the various Italian kings then this is as good as you'll get - in English. But it is not a scintillating or amusing read -none of the Italian kings are likely to attract anyone's sympathy but although they were grim that is no reason to write a grim book.

Four stars for facts but we really do need a good English language book on the Italian kings. If the Portuguese house of Braganza can warrant one then it is surely time for a readable book on these less then inspiring characters.