Abstract

Brutalities Under Mussolini

The article focuses on the book "Escape," by Francesco Nitti. It is another terrifyingly vivid account of the life of the political prisoner under another Italian tyrant. Nitti is the nephew of Italy's former premier. He was arrested on vague charges of opposing the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's regime, supported by the allegation that he had neither wife nor mistress and so must be up to mischief. He was condemned, without trial, under special laws for the defense of the regime, to five years on one of the penal islands. Handcuffed to three fellow-prisoners he was transported to barren Lampedusa, Italy, where with teachers, scientists, lawyers, workmen and peasants, he was subjected to obscene brutalities. For a year he plotted his escape with two friends.