by David I. Kertzer
We think of Italy as an ancient nation, but in fact the unified Italian state was born only in the nineteenth century -- and only against the adamant refusal of the pope to relinquish his rule of Rome. In this riveting chronicle of international intrigue, the renowned historian David Kertzer delves into secret Vatican archives to reveal a venomous conflict that kept the pope a self-imposed prisoner of the Vatican for more than 50 years. King Victor Emmanuel, his nemesis Garibaldi, the French Emperor Napoleon III, England, Spain, Germany, Austria, and even America play a part in this astonishing drama. On September 20th, 1870, the king's battle to unite the disparate Italian states came to a head when his troops broke through the walls of Rome, which the Pope had ruled for centuries. Pope Pius IX, ensconced with the Vatican Council, denounced the usurpers and plotted with his advisers to regain power or else flee Italy altogether. A dramatic struggle unfolded over the next two decades,
Roald Dahl
Zora Neale Hurston
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