Imitating Mussolini with Advantages: The Case of Edgardo Sulis

Edgardo Sulis has possessed a minor place in the literature on fascism as a revolutionary fascist journalist. His writings do express an utter dedication to Mussolini and urge a profound fascist totalitarianism. However, Sulis's words need to be placed in the context of his ordinary life. When this background is explored a fascinating apposition surfaces between fascist Italy and the traditional Italies (Sulis came from rural Sardinia and never abandoned his contacts there). The tension between the 'two faces of Edgardo Sulis' suggests qualification of some of the more naively literal recent historiography about fascism as a 'political religion'. This fascist revolutionary 'true believer' sought his rewards here on earth.