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Biography of Italian fascist wins Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction Biography of Italian fascist wins Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction
(about 17 hours later)
A biography of a "repellent egotist", the Italian poet turned fascist politician Gabriele D'Annunzio,late Monday won the £20,000 Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction. A biography of a "repellent egotist", the Italian poet turned fascist politician Gabriele D'Annunzio, has won the £20,000 Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction.
The Pike, by Lucy Hughes-Hallett, is an account of how the charismatic D'Annunzio transformed himself into a national hero and helped lay the foundations for the rise of Mussolini.The Pike, by Lucy Hughes-Hallett, is an account of how the charismatic D'Annunzio transformed himself into a national hero and helped lay the foundations for the rise of Mussolini.
Judges praised her biography but acknowledged what an odious subject D'Annunzio was.Judges praised her biography but acknowledged what an odious subject D'Annunzio was.
The chair of judges, the Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, said: "Readers of The Pike will surely admire Lucy Hughes-Hallett's writing and her intricate crafting of the narrative. Her original experimentation with form transcends the conventions of biography.The chair of judges, the Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, said: "Readers of The Pike will surely admire Lucy Hughes-Hallett's writing and her intricate crafting of the narrative. Her original experimentation with form transcends the conventions of biography.
"And they will be transfixed by her vivid portrayal of D'Annunzio – how this repellent egotist quickly gained literary celebrity and how, thereafter, his incendiary oratory and foolhardy bravery influenced Italy's involvement in World War I and the subsequent rise of Mussolini."And they will be transfixed by her vivid portrayal of D'Annunzio – how this repellent egotist quickly gained literary celebrity and how, thereafter, his incendiary oratory and foolhardy bravery influenced Italy's involvement in World War I and the subsequent rise of Mussolini.
"The book shows how fascism rose partly as a perversion of nationalism – a trend still sadly relevant in today's world.""The book shows how fascism rose partly as a perversion of nationalism – a trend still sadly relevant in today's world."
Rees praised all six books on the shortlist this year. They were "enlightening, absorbing and accessible", he said and testified "to the strength and variety of current non-fiction writing".Rees praised all six books on the shortlist this year. They were "enlightening, absorbing and accessible", he said and testified "to the strength and variety of current non-fiction writing".
The bookmakers' favourite for the UK's most prestigious non-fiction prize had been William Dalrymple's Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, an account of the first Afghan war, which began in 1839 and ranks as one of the most catastrophic and incompetently led of any British military campaign.The bookmakers' favourite for the UK's most prestigious non-fiction prize had been William Dalrymple's Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, an account of the first Afghan war, which began in 1839 and ranks as one of the most catastrophic and incompetently led of any British military campaign.
The other books missing out were Under Another Sky, a journey around Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins, the Guardian's chief arts writer; the first volume of Charles Moore's authorised biography of Margaret Thatcher; A Sting in the Tale, a study of bumble bees by Dave Goulson; and Empires of the Dead by David Crane, which tells the forgotten story behind the building of first world war cemeteries.The other books missing out were Under Another Sky, a journey around Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins, the Guardian's chief arts writer; the first volume of Charles Moore's authorised biography of Margaret Thatcher; A Sting in the Tale, a study of bumble bees by Dave Goulson; and Empires of the Dead by David Crane, which tells the forgotten story behind the building of first world war cemeteries.
Hughes-Hallett was presented with her prize at a ceremony in London on Monday. She follows winners such as Antony Beevor's Stalingrad, which took the inaugural Samuel Johnson prize in 1999; and more recently Frank Dikotter's Mao's Great Famine in 2011 and last year Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the conquest of Everest by Wade Davis.Hughes-Hallett was presented with her prize at a ceremony in London on Monday. She follows winners such as Antony Beevor's Stalingrad, which took the inaugural Samuel Johnson prize in 1999; and more recently Frank Dikotter's Mao's Great Famine in 2011 and last year Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the conquest of Everest by Wade Davis.
The prize was decided by a panel that also consisted of the classicist Mary Beard; the director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti; the historian Peter Hennessy and the non-fiction reviewer James McConnachie.The prize was decided by a panel that also consisted of the classicist Mary Beard; the director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti; the historian Peter Hennessy and the non-fiction reviewer James McConnachie.
Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of Foyles bookshops, said of Hughes-Hallet's win: "As well as being a much needed modern analysis of a dangerously charismatic figure, the book stands as an eloquent riposte to all those who talk of the death of serious biography: Hughes-Hallett ignores no aspect of his fulcral role in the rise of Italian fascism."Jonathan Ruppin, web editor of Foyles bookshops, said of Hughes-Hallet's win: "As well as being a much needed modern analysis of a dangerously charismatic figure, the book stands as an eloquent riposte to all those who talk of the death of serious biography: Hughes-Hallett ignores no aspect of his fulcral role in the rise of Italian fascism."
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