Denis Mack Smith facts for kids
Denis Mack Smith (born March 3, 1920 – died July 11, 2017) was a famous British historian. He wrote many books and articles about the history of Italy. His writings covered Italy from the time of the Risorgimento (when Italy became one country) onwards.
He was especially known for writing biographies (life stories) of important Italian figures. These included Giuseppe Garibaldi, a hero who helped unite Italy; Camillo Cavour, a key politician; Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy; and Benito Mussolini, a leader from the 20th century. Denis Mack Smith was born in London.
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What Did Denis Mack Smith Do?
Denis Mack Smith had an interesting career. From 1942 to 1945, during World War II, he worked as an officer in the British War Cabinet. This was a very important group that helped run the country during the war.
Teaching and Research
After the war, he became a teacher and researcher at famous universities.
- From 1947 to 1962, he was a fellow and lecturer at the University of Cambridge. This means he taught students and did his own research there.
- From 1962 to 1987, he was a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. This is a special role where he focused mainly on his research and writing.
He was also an Honorary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford and Peterhouse, Cambridge, which are special titles given to respected scholars.
His Books on Italian History
Denis Mack Smith wrote many important books that helped people understand Italian history better. Here are some of his most famous works:
- Cavour and Garibaldi, 1860: A Study in Political Conflict (1954): This book looked at the disagreements between two key figures in Italy's unification.
- Garibaldi: A Great Life in Brief (1956): A shorter biography of the Italian hero, Garibaldi.
- Italy: A Modern History (1958): A big book covering Italy's recent history. It was later updated and reprinted as Modern Italy: A Political History (1997).
- A History of Sicily (1968): He wrote this with another historian, Moses Finley. It covered the long history of the island of Sicily.
- Mussolini (1981): A detailed biography of Benito Mussolini, a very important and controversial figure in Italian history.
- Cavour (1985): Another biography, this time about Camillo Cavour, the politician who helped create modern Italy.
Denis Mack Smith passed away on July 11, 2017, in London. He was 97 years old. His work continues to be important for anyone studying Italian history.
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