A Bold and Dangerous Family

The Remarkable Story of an Italian Mother, Her Two Sons, and Their Fight Against Fascism

By: Caroline Moorehead

Narrated by: John Lee

The acclaimed author of A Train in Winter and Village of Secrets delivers the next chapter in ""The Resistance Quartet"": the astonishing story of the aristocratic Italian family who stood up to Mussolini's fascism, and whose efforts helped define the path of Italy in the years between the World Wars—a profile in courage that remains relevant today.

Members of the cosmopolitan, cultural aristocracy of Florence at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Rosselli family, led by their fierce matriarch, Amelia, were vocal anti-fascists. As populist, right-wing nationalism swept across Europe after World War I, and Italy’s Prime Minister, Benito Mussolini, began consolidating his power, Amelia’s sons Carlo and Nello led the opposition, taking a public stand against Il Duce that few others in their elite class dared risk. When Mussolini established a terrifying and brutal police state controlled by his Blackshirts—the squaddristi—the Rossellis and their anti-fascist circle were transformed into active resisters.

In retaliation, many of the anti-fascists were arrested and imprisoned; others left the country to escape a similar fate. Tragically, Carlo and Nello were eventually assassinated by Mussolini’s secret service. After Italy entered World War II in June 1940, Amelia, thanks to visas arranged by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt herself, fled to New York City with the remaining members of her family.

Renowned historian Caroline Moorehead paints an indelible picture of Italy in the first half of the twentieth century, offering an intimate account of the rise of Il Duce and his squaddristi; life in Mussolini’s penal colonies; the shocking ambivalence and complicity of many prominent Italian families seduced by Mussolini’s promises; and the bold, fractured resistance movement whose associates sacrificed their lives to fight fascism. In A Bold and Dangerous Family, Moorehead once again pays tribute to heroes who fought to uphold our humanity during one of history’s darkest chapters.

Good but grating

The story of the Rosselli family Is compelling, and gives a keen insight into the rise of Fascism and the anti fascist movement. The narrator's voice is sonorous and pleasant, but the butchering of Italian words is beyond grating, and diminishes the thoroughness of Moorehead's research. It would have behooved them to have an Italian speaker (or even a quick reference to a translation app) "proof listen" to correct the numerous pronunciation errors. (Guglielmo, Italianità, Salò just to name a few.)

An important and truly moving history

A story for our time, brilliantly written and narrated. Mussolini and his creeping Facism are all too familiar. One family resisted to the end and remain our model

Too Much

Entirely too detailed. What the subjects had for lunch or breakfast, who they passed and smiled at, or any number of like details was way too much. A stronger editor was needed. One of the many instances where the inability to decide what was valuable in the research and worth including and what was not detracted from an impressive history.

Fascinating.

A glimpse into the history of a nations downfall into the ugliness Fascism and a Dictator’s egoism and the struggle of a strong family intent on keeping the flame of truth visible.
Well researched, written and read. Thank you.

Tedious!

It's clear that the author researched this story thoroughly. But did she have to throw in every single smidgen of information that she uncovered? I expected this book to be somewhat exciting. Wouldn't a tale of "A Bold and Dangerous Family" be packed with action and intrigue? But no, the book was B-O-R-I-N-G! Way too much extraneous detail! And the narrator's delivery made it all the more boring. Life is too short to bother finishing this book.