Review by Choice Review
The question of nationalities and minorities is at the basis of nation-state formation, and this study by Monzali (Univ. of Bari, Italy), translated from Italian, investigates such a minority, namely, the Italians in Dalmatia, with a focus from the mid-19th century to WW I, without neglecting the antecedent period. Extremely and minutely descriptive in its factual accounts and based on ample archival documentation supported by primary and secondary sources, Monzali's study offers new insights on Dalmatian history, challenging the usual view concerning Slavic peoples in the region oppressed by the Italian minority. Monzali's main argument traces the great influence of the Habsburg Empire and Italy on Dalmatia and its Slavic and Italian inhabitants, highlighting how Italian and even Slavic nationalisms resulted more from diplomatic and foreign policy considerations than from the identity, cultural, and language motivations deriving directly from those peoples. Though well written, the book's extremely dense factual offerings may challenge undergraduate students who lack a deep foundation in modern and contemporary European history. An encyclopedic source for more advanced history and political science students, graduate students, and faculty/researchers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. C. De Santi SUNY Fredonia
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
