This powerful study offers a vivid and often disturbing account of the Italian army's violent occupation of Slovenia during World War II. Beginning with the decision of the Fascist regime to annex Slovenia as an Italian province in 1941, it moves from the Fascist's naive attempts to Italianize the population, through local resistance and brutal reaction against civilians, to the army's spectacular tactical and organizational failures and its ultimate collapse following Italy's defection from the Axis in 1943. It thus restores an often forgotten, frequently misunderstood chapter of the savage history of World War II.

This powerful study offers a vivid and often disturbing account of the Italian army's occupation of Slovenia during World War II. It moves from the decision of the Italians to annex Slovenia in 1941, through local resistance and brutal reaction against civilians, to the army's ultimate collapse following Italy's defection from the Axis.

How often does a visitor to Rome drift towards some landmark and wonder who created it? Why? What was their story? This fascinating book provides the answers. At once a history and a guide, it divides Rome into the districts dominated by the fabulously rich families of the Popes: the Colonna, della Rovere, Farnese, Borghese, Barberini and others. In each case we learn their story - powerful, bloody and vivid - with all the scandals and intrigues as well as their relationships with artists like Bernini and Michelangelo. As we stroll through Rome's history - either literally or in the imagination - we discover it afresh. Famous sites like the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and St Peter's take on new significance as we watch the city rise from cramped medieval streets to become a glorious panorama of piazzas and palaces, fountains, towers and domes.