George Seldes (1890–1995)

When this book came out in 1935, Mussolini was being praised in the Western media as a hero who kept the "red menace" out of Italy. It debunks such claims, and issues a stern warning to Americans about the true nature of Fascism. Mussolini "learned his Machiavelli well," says the author; that is the key to understanding him. He leaves no doubts about Mussolini's complicity in the murder of Matteotti, calling it "a necessary step in the consolidation of power."

Seldes is biased against show more Mussolini, but objective and honest in his facts. He insists that he holds no grudge about his expulsion from Italy in 1925. He knew Mussolini as a fellow journalist in Italy and draws on editorials penned by him, as well as on documents smuggled out by American journalists in Rome.

He examines the corporate state and concludes that Fascism is a failure because the masses of people are worse off. He criticizes Mussolini's human rights record and his suppression of press freedom. Fascist economic claims are fraudulent, he says, and Mussolini doesn't even make the trains run on time!

Seldes warns Americans that fascism already exists in America and needs only a demagogue to mobilize it into a dangerous force. show less

George Seldes, in this book, finally gets to say exactly what he wants. After many years of being muzzled by the media as a reporter for various agencies, Seldes arrives(d) at a point where he can express the truth of many of the events in history for which he was immediately present. Seldes was lucky enough, or unfortunate enough, depending on how you see the matters he describes, to be present during many pivotal points in the 2oth century.

Since he was quite literally there, he reports show more the actual truth as he recollects it as opposed to the oft repeated stories we are told on everything from people who actually met Abraham Lincoln to the political contemporaries of JFK and beyond. Many of these facts are in stark contrast to narratives we hold to be true such that they may be shocking to students of history.

I enjoyed this book because it is rare to see someone remember and then say what they recollect throughout their life particularly about historical events where a sort of amnesia washes over people. I'd highly recommend it for students of history in specific as the original source material here is priceless. show less

An analysis of the then-contemporary mass media, from a decidedly leftist point of view. Seldes is generally quite hostile to most of the "lords of the press," not without a certain amount of reason, but the analysis is unleavened by anything even remotely resembling A.J. Liebling's elephantine humour. About the only organization that comes off well is the Newspaper Guild, not surprisingly. Very much a period piece.

A politically tendentious collection whose merit is that most of its quotations don't appear in other reference books. If you need an adoring phrase about Lenin or a not-too-overworked way to insult conservatism, this is a good place to start. Ignore the puerile front matter - even if you're a lefty: It will embarrass you.