The Pope and Mussolini
The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe is a 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner biography of Pope Pius XI about his relations with Benito Mussolini and rise of Fascism in Europe by David Kertzer.[1] The book examined documentary evidence from the Vatican archives, arguing that Pope Pius XI played a significant role in supporting the rise of Fascism and Benito Mussolini in Italy, but not of Nazism in Germany.[2]
 | |
| Author | David Kertzer |
|---|---|
| Published | January 28, 2014 |
| Publisher | Random House Publishing Group |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography |
The Pope and Mussolini won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography.[3]
About the book
It is the story of Pope Pius XI’s relations with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, based on archival material from both.[4]
Reception
The book was lauded by many authors including Joseph J. Ellis, who wrote, "Kertzer has an eye for a story, an ear for the right word, and an instinct for human tragedy. This is a sophisticated blockbuster." The New Yorker called the book "A fascinating and tragic story."The New York Review of Books states, "Revelatory . . . [a] detailed portrait."[5] Historian Paul Gottfried criticized the book for being overly critical of the Church.[6]
Editions
American edition:
- Kertzer, David I. (2014). The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780679645535.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
British edition:
- Kertzer, David I. (2014). The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198716167.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Italian edition:
- Kertzer, David I. (2014). Il patto col diavolo: Mussolini e Papa Pio XI le relazioni segrete fra il Vaticano e l'Italia fascista. Rizzoli. ISBN 9788858664674.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
German edition:
- Kertzer, David I. (2016). Der erste Stellvertreter: Papst Pius XI. und der geheime Pakt mit dem Faschismus. Theiss Verlag. ISBN 9783806233827.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Awards
The biography won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Letter and Music category of Biography or Autobiography.[7]
References
- "The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe". Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Ventresca, R. A. (2014). "The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe by David I. Kertzer (review)". The Catholic Historical Review. 100 (3): 630–632. doi:10.1353/cat.2014.0160. S2CID 150853556.
- Somaiya, Ravi (April 20, 2015). "2015 Pulitzer Winners: Charleston, S.C., Paper Wins Public Service Prize; New York Times Wins 3". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- "How a Pope Helped Mussolini Rise to Power And tried to stop him before it was too late". Saul Friedländer. The New Republic. March 8, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- "The Pope Who Tried". Alexander Stille. The New Yorker. April 23, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Painting Catholicism with a Fascist Brush
- "Biography or Autobiography". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
Further reading
- Kertzer, David I. (2014). The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198716167.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)