First published 1998
Benito Mussolini awakens to the sound of Allied bombers overhead. His empire lies in ruins, his German allies retreat northward, and partisan fighters close in from the mountains. The man who once commanded millions now depends on a shrinking circle of loyalists as he flees toward the Swiss border. His mistress Clara Petacci remains at his side while former supporters abandon him. Each decision could mean capture or escape. The Duce who promised to restore Roman glory must confront what his ambitions have cost Italy. In these final hours, Mussolini grapples with the weight of his choices and the approaching end of everything he built. This is the story of a dictator's last stand.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, biography-memoir, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: downfall-of-a-dictator, historical-figures
Setting: Italy, Switzerland
Period: World War II
168 pages · Hardcover · Permanent Pr Pub Co
Content warnings: violence