MAZZINI AND THE SECRET SOCIETIES

Subtitled, The Making of a Myth, this volume is a serious historical study of the early life of the famous Italian revolutionary, Guiseppe Mazzini. It covers the period from his birth in Genoa in 1805 to his exile in London in 1837. Attention is concentrated upon his constant activity in connection with the secret societies of the Carbonari, Young Italy and Young Europe. His personal psychology and the theology he formulated are themes which the author keeps continually in mind as bearing directly upon Mazzini's early activities, his future role in Italian politics and the myth that has been created around his name generally in history. An entire chapter is devoted to a formal consideration of his theology at the end of the book:- a romantic, dogmatic theology of progress, not purely secular however; and a moral theology of mission and sacrifice for the individual with regard to the ideals of nationalism and service of humanity. The author displays remarkable scholarly objectivity and impartiality in dealing with his subject as he tries to see Mazzini as he truly was and not as either his enemies or friends viewed him. At the same time he has composed a work that is eminently readable, whose style is both interesting and unted.