First published 2006
David I. Kertzer examines the dramatic political upheaval that ended papal territorial rule in 19th-century Europe. The Pulitzer Prize winner focuses on the moment when Italian forces captured Rome in 1870, transforming it into the capital of newly unified Italy. Pope Pius IX responded by barricading himself within Vatican walls, proclaiming his status as a captive and appealing to European powers for military intervention. Kertzer traces the decades of scheming that followed this standoff, involving major figures like Giuseppe Garibaldi, King Victor Emmanuel II, Napoleon III, and Otto von Bismarck. The author draws from previously sealed Vatican archives to expose the web of accusations, condemnations, and covert negotiations that shaped modern Italy's relationship with the Catholic Church. This hidden documentary evidence reveals how religious and political leaders maneuvered behind closed doors while publicly maintaining their opposing positions. Kertzer demonstrates how this conflict fundamentally altered both Italian nationalism and papal authority in ways that continue to influence contemporary politics.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: Italy, Rome, Vatican
Period: 19th-Century
368 pages · Kindle Edition · Mariner Books