Table of Contents

Part 1 Vittorio Emanuel II the King and the constitution; an abortive march on Rome, 1862; from Turin to Florence; the war for Venice; court politics 1866-7; a failed revolution 1867; personal rule; the conquest of Rome; the left in power; death and retrospect. Part 2 Umberto I: the new reign; the triple alliance; Depretis and the transformation of parties; Crispi 1887-91; two interim governments; Crispi and the politics of force; defeat in Africa; Umberto reasserts his authority; two turbulent years; the collapse of parliamentary government; retrospect. Part 3 Vittorio Emanuele III: a new direction in politics; foreign policy 1900-1904; the beginning of "Giolittismo"; great-power politics; victory in Libya; Giolitti in difficulties; Salandra, 1914; to fight or not to fight? Part 4 World war I and the rise of fascism: Italy at war 1915-17; defeat and triumph, 1917-18; post-war difficulties; fascism and the march on Rome; the fascist dictatorship; the "Diarchy"; alliance with Germany. Part 5 The end of monarchy: Italy drifts into war; the regime disintegrates; Mussolini is dismissed; the armistice; the flight from Rome; the monarchy under attack; Umberto II.