The Generalissimo by Marco Mondini

The Generalissimo by Marco Mondini

Luigi Cadorna remains one of the most controversial generals in Italian history. Appointed chief of the armed forces in 1914, he led the Italian army in the field from May 1915 until the aftermath of their calamitous defeat at Caporetto in 1917. In this major new biography, Marco Mondini traces Cadorna's rise, the nature of his command, the course of the Isonzo campaign, and the battles over his post-war reputation. He brings a new cultural perspective to Cadorna's life, demonstrating the role of Italy's military and national culture, the myths of the Risorgimento, and the mobilization of propaganda in creating an effective cult of personality. Utilizing ego-documents, memoirs, letters and public writings, Mondini delves into the ideology and psychology that combined to create such an untouchable autocrat, arguing that the history of fascism in Italy cannot be fully understood without appreciating Cadorna's role in the First World War.

'Marco Mondini's study of Luigi Cadorna The Generalissimo is an absorbing portrait of a long- neglected but central figure in the story of the 1914–18 warMondini shows us how background, culture and inheritance shaped a complex persona, how personality translated into a harsh and inflexible command style, and how Cadorna, an idol on a self-made pedestal, presided unchecked over a bloody and largely fruitless slogging match for more than two years before crashing to defeat and humiliation. Wide in perspective and rich in insights, this model military biography will be essential reading for all students of the Great War.' John Gooch, University of Leeds
'The leading Italian First World War historian of his generation, Marco Mondini expertly presents a convincing and balanced reappraisal of Cadorna's command. This long-overdue critical study of Italy's controversial chief of general staff makes an essential contribution to debates over leadership, strategy and tactics in the First World War.' Vanda Wilcox, John Cabot University, Rome

Marco Mondini is Associate Professor in History of Conflicts at the University of Padua. His recent publications include Il ritorno della guerra. Combattere, uccidere, morire in Italia (1861-2022), Roma 1922. Il fascismo e la guerra mai finita, The Mediatization of War and Peace (as co-editor with C. Cornelissen) and Fiume 1919. Una guerra civile italiana.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781009098670
ISBN 10	1009098675
Title	The Generalissimo
Author	Marco Mondini
Series	Cambridge Military Histories
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2025-07-31
Number of pages	300
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.