The Perfect Fascist : A Story of Love, Power, and Morality in Mussolini’s Italy

"As Fellini did in film, The Perfect Fascist takes us into the dark and complicated heart of Italian fascism...It is an extraordinary story that illuminates the ways in which the all-consuming nature of fascism distorted Italian society and destroyed the lives of individuals. I could not put it down." --Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris 1919 "With lyrical precision, The Perfect Fascist reveals how ideology corrupts the truth, how untrammeled ambition destroys the soul, and how the vanity of white male supremacy distorts emotion, making even love a matter of state." --Sonia Purnell, author of A Woman of No Importance Through the story of one exemplary fascist--a war hero turned commander of Mussolini's Black Shirts--the award-winning author of How Fascism Ruled Women reveals how the personal became political in the fascist quest for manhood and power. When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini's handsome political enforcer, married a rising young American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was a carefully stage-managed affair, capped with a blessing by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, after being promoted to commander of the Black Shirts, Teruzzi renounced his wife. In fascist Italy, a Catholic country with no divorce law, he could only dissolve the marriage by filing for an annulment through the medieval procedures of the Church Court. The proceedings took an ominous turn when Mussolini joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws. The Perfect Fascist pivots from the intimate story of a tempestuous seduction and inconvenient marriage--brilliantly reconstructed through family letters and court records--to a riveting account of Mussolini's rise and fall. It invites us to see in the vain, loyal, lecherous, and impetuous Attilio Teruzzi, a decorated military officer, an exemplar of fascism's New Man. Why did he abruptly discard the woman he had so eagerly courted? And why, when the time came to find another partner, did he choose another Jewish woman as his would-be wife? In Victoria de Grazia's engrossing account, we see him vacillating between the will of his Duce and the dictates of his heart. De Grazia's landmark history captures the seductive appeal of fascism and shows us how, in his moral pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today. A New Statesman Book of the Year Winner of the Helen and Howard R. Marraro Prize Winner of the Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for Italian Studies "Extraordinary...I could not put it down." —Margaret MacMillan "Reveals how ideology corrupts the truth, how untrammeled ambition destroys the soul, and how the vanity of white male supremacy distorts emotion, making even love a matter of state." —Sonia Purnell, author of A Woman of No Importance When Attilio Teruzzi, a decorated military officer and early convert to the Fascist cause, married a rising American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was blessed by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, Teruzzi, now commander of the Black Shirts, renounced his wife. Lilliana was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws. The Perfect Fascist pivots from the intimate story of a tempestuous courtship and inconvenient marriage to the operatic spectacle of Mussolini's rise and fall. It invites us to see in the vain, unscrupulous, fanatically loyal Attilio Teruzzi an exemplar of fascism's New Man. Victoria De Grazia's landmark history shows how the personal was always political in the fascist quest for manhood and power. In his self-serving pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today. "The brilliance of de Grazia's book lies in the way that she has made a page-turner of Teruzzi's chaotic life, while providing a scholarly and engrossing portrait of the two decades of Fascist rule." —Caroline Moorhead, Wall Street Journal "Original and important...A probing analysis of the fascist 'strong man.' De Grazia's attention to Teruzzi's private life, his behavior as suitor and husband, deepens and enriches our understanding of the nature of leadership in Mussolini's regime and of masculinity, virility, and honor in Italian fascist culture." —Robert O. Paxton, author of The Anatomy of Fascism "This is a perfect book!...Its two entwined narratives—one political and public, the other personal and private—help us understand why the personal is political for those who insist on reshaping people and society." —Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran "Through the story of one exemplary fascist-a war hero turned commander of Mussolini's Black Shirts-the award-winning author of How Fascism Ruled Women reveals how the personal became political in the fascist quest for manhood and power. When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini's handsome political enforcer, married a striking young American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was a carefully stage-managed affair, capped with a blessing by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, after being promoted to commander of the Blackshirts, Teruzzi renounced his wife. In fascist Italy, a Catholic country with no divorce law, he could only dissolve the marriage by filing for an annulment through the medieval procedures of the Church Court. The proceedings took an ominous turn when Mussolini joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws. The Perfect Fascist pivots from the intimate story of an inconvenient marriage-brilliantly reconstructed through family letters and court records-to a riveting account of Mussolini's rise and fall. It invites us to see in the vain, loyal, lecherous, and impetuous Attilio Teruzzi, a decorated military officer with few scruples and a penchant for parades, an exemplar of fascism's New Man. Why did he abruptly discard the woman he had so eagerly courted? And why, when the time came to find another partner, did he choose another Jewish woman as his would-be wife? In Victoria de Grazia's engrossing account, we see him vacillating between the will of his Duce and the dictates of his heart. De Grazia's landmark history captures the seductive appeal of fascism and shows us how, in his moral pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today"-- Provided by publisher "Through the story of one exemplary fascist-a war hero turned commander of Mussolini's Black Shirts-the award-winning author of How Fascism Ruled Women reveals how the personal became political in the fascist quest for manhood and power. When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini's handsome political enforcer, married a striking young American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was a carefully stage-managed affair, capped with a blessing by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, after being promoted to commander of the Blackshirts, Teruzzi renounced his wife. In fascist Italy, a Catholic country with no divorce law, he could only dissolve the marriage by filing for an annulment through the medieval procedures of the Church Court. The proceedings took an ominous turn when Mussolini joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws. The Perfect Fascist pivots from the intimate story of an inconvenient marriage-brilliantly reconstructed through family letters and court records-to a riveting account of Mussolini's rise and fall. It invites us to see in the vain, loyal, lecherous, and impetuous Attilio Teruzzi, a decorated military officer with few scruples and a penchant for parades, an exemplar of fascism's New Man. Why did he abruptly discard the woman he had so eagerly courted? And why, when the time came to find another partner, did he choose another Jewish woman as his would-be wife? In Victoria de Grazia's engrossing account, we see him vacillating between the will of his Duce and the dictates of his heart. De Grazia's landmark history captures the seductive appeal of fascism and shows us how, in his moral pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today"-- Prové de l'editor Through the story of one exemplary fascist—a war hero turned commander of Mussolini’s Black Shirts—the award-winning author of How Fascism Ruled Women reveals how the personal became political in the fascist quest for manhood and power.When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini’s handsome political enforcer, married a striking young American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was a carefully stage-managed affair, capped with a blessing by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, after being promoted to commander of the Black Shirts, Teruzzi renounced his wife. In fascist Italy, a Catholic country with no divorce law, he could only dissolve the marriage by filing for an annulment through the medieval procedures of the Church Court. The proceedings took an ominous turn when Mussolini joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws.The Perfect Fascist pivots from the intimate story of an inconvenient marriage—brilliantly reconstructed through family letters and court records—to a riveting account of Mussolini’s rise and fall. It invites us to see in the vain, loyal, lecherous, and impetuous Attilio Teruzzi, a decorated military officer with few scruples and a penchant for parades, an exemplar of fascism’s New Man. Why did he abruptly discard the woman he had so eagerly courted? And why, when the time came to find another partner, did he choose another Jewish woman as his would-be wife? In Victoria de Grazia’s engrossing account, we see him vacillating between the will of his Duce and the dictates of his heart.De Grazia’s landmark history captures the seductive appeal of fascism and shows us how, in his moral pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today. Through The Story Of One Exemplary Fascist—a War Hero Turned Commander Of Mussolini’s Black Shirts—the Award-winning Author Of How Fascism Ruled Women Reveals How The Personal Became Political In The Fascist Quest For Manhood And Power. When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini’s Handsome Political Enforcer, Married A Striking Young American Opera Star, His Good Fortune Seemed Settled. The Wedding Was A Carefully Stage-managed Affair, Capped With A Blessing By Mussolini Himself. Yet Only Three Years Later, After Being Promoted To Commander Of The Black Shirts, Teruzzi Renounced His Wife. In Fascist Italy, A Catholic Country With No Divorce Law, He Could Only Dissolve The Marriage By Filing For An Annulment Through The Medieval Procedures Of The Church Court. The Proceedings Took An Ominous Turn When Mussolini Joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi Was Jewish, And Fascist Italy Would Soon Introduce Its First Race Laws. The Perfect Fascist Pivots From The Intimate Story Of An Inconvenient Marriage—brilliantly Reconstructed Through Family Letters And Court Records—to A Riveting Account Of Mussolini’s Rise And Fall. It Invites Us To See In The Vain, Loyal, Lecherous, And Impetuous Attilio Teruzzi, A Decorated Military Officer With Few Scruples And A Penchant For Parades, An Exemplar Of Fascism’s New Man. Why Did He Abruptly Discard The Woman He Had So Eagerly Courted? And Why, When The Time Came To Find Another Partner, Did He Choose Another Jewish Woman As His Would-be Wife? In Victoria De Grazia’s Engrossing Account, We See Him Vacillating Between The Will Of His Duce And The Dictates Of His Heart. De Grazia’s Landmark History Captures The Seductive Appeal Of Fascism And Shows Us How, In His Moral Pieties And Intimate Betrayals, His Violence And Opportunism, Teruzzi Is A Forefather Of The Illiberal Politicians Of Today. **"As Fellini did in film, __The Perfect Fascist__ takes us into the dark and complicated heart of Italian fascism...It is an extraordinary story that illuminates the ways in which the all-consuming nature of fascism distorted Italian society and destroyed the lives of individuals. I could not put it down." --Margaret MacMillan, author of __Paris 1919__****"With lyrical precision, __The Perfect Fascist__ reveals how ideology corrupts the truth, how untrammeled ambition destroys the soul, and how the vanity of white male supremacy distorts emotion, making even love a matter of state." --Sonia Purnell, author of __A Woman of No Importance__****Through the story of one exemplary fascist--a war hero turned commander of Mussolini's Black Shirts--the award-winning author of __How Fascism Ruled Women__ reveals how the personal became political in the fascist quest for manhood and power.**When Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini's handsome political enforcer, married a rising young American opera star, his good fortune seemed settled. The wedding was a carefully stage-managed affair, capped with a blessing by Mussolini himself. Yet only three years later, after being promoted to commander of the Black Shirts, Teruzzi renounced his wife. In fascist Italy, a Catholic country with no divorce law, he could only dissolve the marriage by filing for an annulment through the medieval procedures of the Church Court. The proceedings took an ominous turn when Mussolini joined Hitler: Lilliana Teruzzi was Jewish, and fascist Italy would soon introduce its first race laws.__The Perfect Fascist__De Grazia's landmark history captures the seductive appeal of fascism and shows us how, in his moral pieties and intimate betrayals, his violence and opportunism, Teruzzi is a forefather of the illiberal politicians of today. Contents Prologue Part I Strive 1 The Soldier 2 The Great War 3 Mutilated Victory 4 Enter the Diva 5 In Mussolini’s Camp 6 On the March 7 Little Man, What Now? Part II. Grasp 8 Eros and Thanatos 9 Conquering the Ice Princess 10 A Fascist Wedding 11 Mission to Benghazi 12 Insurgency and Betrayal 13 A Matter of Honor Part III. Overreach 14 To Kill a Marriage 15 Commanding the Blackshirts 16 In the Grip of the Inquisition 17 In War, Fullness 18 In Love, Tribulations 19 In Empire, Hollow Glory Part IV. Fall 20 The Rout 21 Comeuppance 22 Last Man Standing 23 A Bearded Corpse 24 I Suffer and I Wait 25 Penance Epilogue Abbreviations for Notes Notes Acknowledgments Index Attilio Teruzzi, Mussolini's commander of the Black Shirts, exemplified fascism's obsession with male strength. Through the story of his broken marriage to a young Jewish American opera star, Victoria de Grazia explores the cult of masculinity on which the New Rome was to be built, revealing the seductive appeal of fascism.