A Chill in the Air: An Italian War Diary, 1939-1940

by Iris Origo

Other authorsLucy Hughes-Hallett (Introduction), Katia Lysy (Afterword)
Paperback, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

940.54

Collection

Publication

NYRB Classics (2018), 192 pages

Description

"A harrowing account of life in Italy in the year leading up to World War II, available in the US for the first time. War in Italy in 1939 was by no means necessary or even beneficial to the country.But in June 1940, Mussolini finally declared war on Britain and France. The awfulinevitability with which Italy stumbled its way into a war for which they were illprepared and largely unenthusiastic is documented here with grace and clarity byone of the twentieth century's great diarists. This diary, which has never been published and was recently found in Iris Origo'sarchives, is the sad and arresting account of the grim absurdities that Italy and theworld underwent as war became more and more unavoidable. Origo, British-bornand living in Italy, was ideally placed to record the events. Extremely engaged withthe world around her, connected to people from all areas of society (from the peasantson her estate to the US ambassador to Italy), she writes of the turmoil, thedanger, and the bleakness of Italy in 1939 and 1940, as war went from a possibilityto a dreadful reality. A Chill in the Air covers the beginning of a war whose catastrophic effects are documentedin Origo's bestselling War in Val D'Orcia"--"War in Italy in 1939 was by no means necessary or even beneficial to the country. But in June 1940, Mussolini finally declared war on Britain and France. The awful inevitability with which Italy stumbled its way into a war for which they were ill prepared and largely unenthusiastic is documented here with grace and clarity by one of the twentieth century's great diarists. This diary, which has never been published and was recently found in Iris Origo's archives, is the sad and gripping account of the grim absurdities that Italy and the world underwent as war became more and more unavoidable. Origo, British-born and living in Italy, was ideally placed to record the events. Extremely engaged with the world around her, connected to people from all areas of society (from the peasants on her estate to the US ambassador to Italy), she writes of the turmoil, the danger, and the bleakness of Italy in 1939 and 1940, as war went from a possibility to a dreadful reality"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member heggiep
This would have been an interesting read at any time but reading it now, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its recent mobilization, was fascinating. War and rumours of war. Nothing much changes.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2017

Physical description

192 p.; 8 inches

ISBN

1681372649 / 9781681372648

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