A Bold and Dangerous Family: The Remarkable Story of an Italian Mother, Her Two Sons, and Their Fight Against Fascism

Shortlisted for the Costa Award

Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize

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.

Moorehead’s powerful narrative of the Rosselli family uncovers the human cost of courage:

• A Defiant Family Saga: Meet the Rossellis of Florence—a cosmopolitan, aristocratic family led by the fierce matriarch Amelia, who dared to stand against the rising tide of fascism.
• The Rise of Il Duce: An intimate, street-level account of Benito Mussolini’s consolidation of power and the terrifying reign of his Blackshirts, the squaddristi.
• The Path to World War II: Discover how the Rossellis' struggle helped define Italy's turbulent path between the World Wars, culminating in their dramatic escape to America with help from Eleanor Roosevelt.
• A True Story of Sacrifice: Follow the tragic and heroic journey of Amelia’s sons, Carlo and Nello, whose public opposition to Il Duce ultimately led to their assassination by Mussolini's secret service.

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 antifascists. 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 squadristi—the Rossellis and their antifascist circle were transformed into active resisters.

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 squadristi; 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.

“An inspiring story, well told.” - Booklist

“An absorbing, well-documented narrative…. A vivid portrait of resistance in dark, perilous times that is not without contemporary relevance.” - Kirkus

“Moorehead, a distinguished biographer and historian, tells the story of the Rosselli brothers and their mother Amelia, a playwright, with sensitivity, erudition, and balance.... A fine tribute.” - Financial Times

“An intimate family portrait…. Moorehead has done us a great service in restoring the humanity of the Rosselli family…. It’s the most complete portrait we have in English of this extraordinary family fighting—each in his or her own way—the most pernicious ideology of the last century.” - New York Times Book Review

“Much has been written about life under fascist rule.... But the study of a nation can never be as emotionally compelling as the study of a family. Expertly alternating vivid domestic detail with lucid exposition of the gradual evolution of totalitarianism, Caroline Moorehead allows her readers not only to know, but also to feel, how it was to endure fascist oppression.”

“Moorehead recounts a story that deserves to be better known, exploiting her remarkable understanding of the nation and its culture.” - Max Hastings, London Sunday Times

“Offers a neat capsule history of Italy in the first half of the century, particularly Mussolini’s rise to power…. Hit[s] home… in its inescapable parallels to our current situation. Ms. Moorehead never makes the point explicitly, and she doesn’t have to.” - Wall Street Journal

“Shines light on the Rosselli family… to illuminate the treacherous and contradictory nature of life in Il Duce’s Italy…. As well versed in Italian socialism as she is in spy-novel tropes, Moorehead combines intellectual rigor with immersive storytelling that will appeal to specialists and casual readers alike.” - Publishers Weekly

“This account of a patriotic Italian-Jewish family at the forefront of the resistance to Mussolini’s regime follows the brothers.... But the center of the book is their mother, Amelia, a prominent playwright and feminist to whom they wrote frequently. Moorehead draws extensively on their letters, giving the reader an intimate sense of the everyday depredations of life under Fascism.” - New Yorker

“An extremely personal and engaging story about the price one family paid for its political resistance.... A must-read.” - Library Journal, starred review

“A haunting reminder of the fragility of liberty and the dangers of complaisance.” - Times (London)