The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy

`Of real assistance to those interested in Italian unification.¿ History

The new edition of this major work on nineteenth-century Italy has been thoroughly rewritten in the light of the scholarship of recent decades.

`The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy¿ introduces the reader to the relationship between the Italian national movement, the Risorgimento, and the unification of Italy in 1859-71. In this new edition the rise of liberal and national attitudes in the various states of Italy is discussed in the context of the literary, cultural, religious and political history of Europe during the period.  New chapters have been included on the development of the Italian language and the role of women. Further new chapters cover the last stage of unification and describe how the new Kingdom of Italy established itself down to 1876.

`The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy¿ combines an expanded selection of original documents with narrative in a clear structure in order to make this complex period accessible.

Derek Beales is Emeritus Professor of Modern History, University of Cambridge. Eugenio Biagini is Reader in Modern British and European History, University of Cambridge.

This book introduces the reader to the relationship between the Italian national movement, achieved by the Risorgimento, and the Italian unification in 1860. These themes are discussed in detail and related to the broader European theatre. Covering the literary, cultural, religious and political history of the period, Beales and Biagini show Italy struggled towards nation state status on all fronts.

The new edition has been thoroughly rewritten. It also contains a number of new documents. In addition, all the most up to date research of the last 20 years has been incorporated.

The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy

remains the major text on nineteenth century Italy.  The long introduction and useful footnotes will be of real assistance to those interested in Italian unification.

Derek Beales is Professor of History, at the University of Cambridge.

Eugenio Biagini is a Lecturer in History, at the University of Cambridge.

Preface

Maps

Introduction

1. The beginning of the Risorgimento, 1748-1815

2. From the Restoration to 1832

3. Charles Albert, Mazzini and the Moderates, 1832-46

4.The artistic and literary Risorgimento and the questione della lingua

5. The national revolution of 1848-49

6. Reconstruction and transformation in the Kingdom of Sardinia, 1849-56

7. Cavour's foreign policy, Garibaldi's initiative and national unification, 1855-61

8. Women and the Risorgimento

9. Venice, the 'Roman Question' and the Brigands, 1862-70

10. Free trade, globalization and the audit of unification, 1863-76

Epiloge

Documents

1. Linguistic and cultural nationalism

2. Enlightened despotism

3. The Jacobin republics and the Napoleonic experience

4. The first calls for national unity

5. The Neapolitan Revolution of 1799

6. Restoration Italy

7. Piedmontese policy and the Treaty of Vienna

8. The liberalism of the emigres: Uglo Foscolo and Giuseppe Pecchio

9. Buonarroti's activities

10. The new King of the Two Sicilies states his principles of government, 1830

11. Mazzini's programme

12. Gioberti's 'philosophy'

13. An English tourist comments on the cultural contrasts between regions in Italy in 1844-45

14. The ancien regime loses its nerve

15. The' Forty-Eight' in Rome

16. The 'Forty-Eight' in Naples

17. The Piedmontese constitution (1848) and the Austrian reactions

18. Plombieres

19. The Tuscan revolution of 1859

20. Cavour and Garibaldi in 1860

21. 'A free Church in a free State' and the liberal approach to the Roman Question

22. Brigands, railways and repression in the South

23. Women and the Risorgimento Chronology

Index