Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Historical Dictionary of Modern Italy, Third Edition (Historical Dictionaries of Europe)

Italy is a country that exercises a hold on the imagination of people all over the world. Its long history has left an inexhaustible treasure chest of cultural achievement: Historic cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice are among the most sought-after destinations in the world for tourists and art lovers. Italy's natural beauty and cuisine are rightly renowned. It's history and politics are also a source of endless fascination. Modern Italy has consistently been a political laboratory for the rest of Europe. This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Modern Italy contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country's politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Italy. Review This historical dictionary covers Italy from the time of Napoleon to the present. It is strongest on the Risorgimento (the unification of Italy) and events onward. The preface, which focuses on politics and economics, is followed by a list of acronyms and abbreviations (essential for understanding Italian politics and economics), a map, and a detailed chronology. Cultural topics are then covered in entries for architecture, literature, music, and film. Neorealism receives separate coverage, though painting has no individual entry. One of the dictionary's most useful features is coverage of the populist movements so prominent in recent Italian politics. Immigration also has its own entry. . . Several major cultural figures, including Pier Paolo Pasolini and Luciano Pavarotti, have their own entries. . . Sports receive notice under Calcio (soccer). Extensive cross-references are provided throughout this wide-ranging dictionary, which is followed by a substantial bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and two-year program students.--CHOICE About the Author Mark F. Gilbert is currently professor of history and international studies at SAIS, is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has been Associate Editor of the Journal of Modern Italian Studies since 2015. He served as Chair of the 2018 Cundill Prize. He is the author of numerous publications and has contributed numerous articles to refereed academic journals of history and politics. His work on current affairs has appeared in The National Interest, Survival, World Policy Journal, and on ForeignAffairs.com. Sara Lamberti Moneta joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy in 2005, and worked in the Department for Multilateral Political Affairs and Human Rights. She was appointed attachée to the Italian Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna in 2011. Since 2014 she has worked as international officer in the Office of the Secretary General at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna.