Florence: Capital of the Kingdom of Italy, 1865-71

Description

This edited collection provides the first comprehensive history of Florence as the mid-19th century capital of the fledgling Italian nation. Covering various aspects of politics, economics, culture and society, this book examines the impact that the short-lived experience of becoming the political and administrative centre of the Kingdom of Italy had on the Tuscan city, both immediately and in the years that followed. It reflects upon the urbanising changes that affected the appearance of the city and the introduction of various economic and cultural innovations. The volume also analyses the crisis caused by the eventual relocation of the capital to Rome and the subsequent bankruptcy of the communality which hampered Florence on the long road to modernity. Florence: Capital of the Kingdom of Italy, 1865-71 is a fascinating study for all students and scholars of modern Italian history.

Monika Poettinger is Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University, Italy. She is the co-editor, along with Gianfranco Tusset, of Economic Thought and History (2016). Piero Roggi is Professor for the History of Economic Thought at the University of Florence, Italy. He is the editor, on behalf of the Italian Senate, of the diaries of Amintore Fanfani.

A fascinating account of Florentine life in the nineteenth century, and a snapshot of the city when it was the capital of Italy, this series of essays shows the city in all its delightful complexity, poised between tradition and modernity, political conservatism and cultural innovation. For lovers of Florence seeking to know more about the history of the modern city, and the material realities behind its Renaissance facade, this book is a must-read. * Lucy Riall, Professor of the Comparative History of Europe, European University Institute, Italy * This book provides a comprehensive history of Florence between 1865 and 1871. An encompassing introduction by one of the editors and 15 contributions show the profound and long-lasting changes resulting from the establishment of Florence as temporary capital of Italy. Readers will learn a lot from this illuminating text and its rich illustrations. * Alain Alcouffe, Emeritus Professor, University of Toulouse, France *