Renzo De Felice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Renzo De Felice
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| Born | 8 April 1929 Rieti, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 25 May 1996 (aged 67) Rome, Republic of Italy |
| Occupation | Historian, writer |
| Alma mater | Sapienza University of Rome |
| Genre | History |
| Subject | Benito Mussolini, Italian fascism and Jacobinism |
| Literary movement | Historical revisionism |
| Notable works | History of the Jews under Fascism (1961) Biography of Mussolini (1965–1996) |
| Spouse | Livia De Ruggiero |
Renzo De Felice (born April 8, 1929 – died May 25, 1996) was an important Italian historian. He was known for studying the Fascist era in Italy. His most famous work was a very long biography of Benito Mussolini, who was Italy's leader during that time. This huge book series was over 6000 pages long!
De Felice had some interesting ideas about Mussolini and Fascism. He thought Mussolini was a modern leader for Italy's own issues. But he also believed Mussolini was practical in how he dealt with other countries. De Felice's work was very influential, but also caused some debate among other historians.
Contents
About Renzo De Felice
Renzo De Felice was born in a town called Rieti in Italy. He studied history at the Sapienza University of Rome. When he was a student, he was part of the Italian Communist Party.
However, after a big event called the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, he disagreed with the party's support for the Soviet Union. He then left the Communist Party and joined the Italian Socialist Party. Later, he became a history professor at the University of Rome. He was married to Livia De Ruggiero and passed away in Rome.
His Work on Mussolini and Fascism
De Felice is best known for his huge, multi-volume biography of Benito Mussolini. He also started and edited an important history magazine called Storia Contemporanea. Even though he was Jewish and a liberal, he wrote a respected book about Jewish life under the Fascist government.
Understanding Fascism
De Felice was very interested in Italian fascism. He believed there were two main types of Fascism:
- Fascism as a movement: This was the early stage, when Fascism was growing. De Felice saw it as a new idea from the middle class. He thought it was a strong movement that came from people wanting a new role in society.
- Fascism as a regime: This was when Fascism became the official government under Mussolini. De Felice thought this stage was mostly about Mussolini's own power and control.
De Felice felt that Fascism should be studied carefully, not just seen as something bad. He wanted historians to look at it scientifically, without letting politics get in the way.
Italian Fascism vs. Nazism
De Felice also strongly believed that Italian Fascism was very different from German National Socialism. He thought they were completely separate political ideas.
Some people criticized De Felice, saying he was too kind to Italian Fascism. However, a well-known Italian communist leader, Giorgio Amendola, actually defended some of De Felice's ideas. Amendola agreed that Fascism had a "revolutionary aspect" and attracted many people. He encouraged more calm discussions about Fascism.
See also
In Spanish: Renzo De Felice para niños
