From Booklist In films of him, shown decades after his death, Mussolini, with his bald, shiny pate, stout frame, and strutting manner, seems a figure more comical than irresistible, like a member of the World Wrestling Federation. Yet, as Olla convincingly asserts, the ability to project an aura of sexual dynamism helped Mussolini to rise and to maintain political power over the Italian populace. Along the way, he cultivated relationships with a variety of mistresses, and some of them satisfied both his sexual and political impulses. Claretta Petacci, who died with Mussolini at the hands of partisans, seemed obsessed with his powerful lovemaking. Margherita Sarfatti, a Jew and a Fascist, influenced his political ideas, wrote an adoring biography, and then was discarded once Mussolini committed his government to anti-Semitism. In most of these relationships, Mussolini acted as a supreme egotist who saw these women as little more than useful and temporary appendages. This is a well-done and timely work, since another self-proclaimed sexual athlete, Silvio Berlusconi, continues to haunt the corridors of power in Italy. --Jay Freeman Read more Review "Intriguing account of Mussolini’s private life." - The Sunday Times"An engrossing book . . . a fine psychological study." - The Spectator"The novelty of this book is its bringing together of the facts and the myths through Mussolini's passion for women." - The Independent"Interspersed with vividly described anecdotes and scenes." - The Erotic Review"This book offers an entertaining and informative account of [the Mussolini] myth." - The Tablet"Roberto Olla's book is an illuminating biography . . . a rich and vivid portrait of Benito Mussolini." - The National"A spicy tale. As an experienced journalist, Olla writes [Mussolini's] life with pace and zest." - TLS"In this well-written book [Olla] has produced a vivid and absorbing description of Mussolini, which gets close to the nature of who "Il Duce" was, and curiously who he wasn't." - The Regency Magazine"Written in a lively manner" - The Regency Magazine"A well-done and timely work." - Booklist"Olla provides an absorbing account of Mussolini’s self-proclaimed manful potency and ‘animal allure’." - Ian Thomson, The Guardian Read more See all Editorial Reviews
B**T
Better than the title suggests.
The title is somewhat misleading as it does not do justice to the substance of the book. It is actually a very good biography of Mussolini and is not focused on his love life. It does, however, derive much of its information from the women who knew, and were enamored of, Il Duce. It has a great deal of background information which is often absent from biographies of Mussolini, setting the historical scene very well. It is a fluent read, written by someone who intimately knows the history of the period. I thought it curious that at the end he appends brief biographies of many people who are interesting and important, but many of whom were never mentioned in the book. He obviously had more to say than he could fit into one book. I don't know if this is the first biography of Mussolini you should read, but it is one of the best.
W**T
Interesting
Rife with interesting facts about the women who influenced Mussolini to a surprising degree. For instance, one of the most influential architects of the Fascist myth was no other than a Jewish woman. The narrative attempts to give order to what is otherwise a messy life that followed multiple threads but ultimately reads disjointedly.
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