Do you know any biographies of Gabriele D'Annunzio written in English?
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ezra Pound discussion list of the University of Maine
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Bill Freind
> Sent: Saturday, November 20, 1999 3:28 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Integer vitae scelerisque purum
>
>
> >but, just to satisfy yer request fer lucidity:
> >fascism is  the reactionary form of populism;
> >communism,  the progressive.
> >together they constitute that unitary dialectic called the working class,
> >and, of course, both stand at war with the bourgeoisie.
>
> Well, I'm not sure binaries such as that are really helpful. As a young
> man, Mussolini was a dedicated socialist (as his father had
> been), but it's
> important to note that in the first decades of this century Marx's thought
> was still relatively new. That's especially true in Italy, and as a result
> some idiosyncratic perspectives arose. A number of historians
> emphasize the
> Marxist and socialist underpinnings of fascism: A. James Gregor calls
> Italian fascism a "Marxist heresy."
>
> It's also important to note that many of the "nations" which we North
> Americans like to think are ancient are fairly recent, at least as
> political entities. If I'm remembering right (and Fabio can correct me if
> I'm off) Italy isn't unified until 1861, and Rome isn't included in that
> union until 1870. Nationalism thus becomes a new and powerful political
> force, especially in WWII, when many Italians believe a victory will bring
> them Trieste, Fiume and other territories. Fascism becomes a way to
> "complete" the Risorgimento.
>
> Speaking of Fiume, I'm amazed that North Americans pay so little attention
> to Gabriele D'Annunzio's short-lived republic there. D'Annunzio seized
> control of the city when it became apparent it would go not to
> Italy but to
> the new nation of Yugoslavia (I think), and he quickly implemented what
> amounted to a dry-run for fascism: he refined the balcony
> address, made one
> of the first political radio speeches (with Marconi, no less), and patched
> together a political platform that fused left and right. He planned to
> establish an Anti-League of Nations that would include the Irish,
> Palestinians, Montenegrins and others, guaranteed universal sufferage and
> freedom of religion, etc. It's a fascinating episode.
>
> Bill Freind
 
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