Claretta

“RJB Bosworth draws on rarely consulted papers that Petacci kept of their nine-year relationship. One of the finest historians of modern Italy, Bosworth has written both a love story, full of passion and jealousy, and a vivid portrait of Italy under a man who dreamt of recreating the Roman empire . . . Claretta is an extremely enjoyable read.”—Caroline Moorehead, Financial Times

A TIMES BEST HISTORY BOOK FOR 2017.

“A brilliant insight into Mussolini’s relationship with his most persistent and devoted lover.”—David Laven, author of Venice and Venetia under the Habsburgs

‘Picking his way between myths, half-truths and downright lies Richard Bosworth has brilliantly documented the realities of the sordid and sometimes turbulent relationship between Benito Mussolini and Clara Petacci.’ - John Pollard, University of Cambridge, author of The Papacy in the Age of Totalitarianism, 1914-1958



'By taking us deep into this private world, this important book illuminates the inner workings of the fascist regime and gives a better insight into Mussolini than any other political biography ever could.' – Stephen Gundle, author of Mussolini's Dream Factory: Film Stardom in Fascist Italy

'In his magisterial biography of Mussolini, Richard Bosworth showed how the Fascist dictator ruled by interview. Between meetings, he rang his lover, Claretta Petacci, often every half an hour, a display of devotion and distraction in equal measure. Claretta's life with the dictator is an extraordinary tale and Bosworth is the perfect historical narrator for it. A must.' - Nicholas Stargardt, author of The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945