{"product_id":"9780007213962","title":"The Pike : Gabriele d'Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War by Lucy Hughes-Hallett","description":"THE TIMES BIOGRAPHY OF THE DECADE                                WINNER OF THE 2013 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION                                WINNER OF THE 2013 COSTA BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR                    The story of Gabriele D'Annunzio, poet, daredevil - and Fascist.             In September 1919 Gabriele D'Annunzio, successful poet and occasional politician, declared himself Commandante of the city of Fiume in modern day Croatia. His intention - to establish a utopia based on his fascist and artistic ideals. It was the dramatic pinnacle to an outrageous career.             Lucy Hughes-Hallett charts the controversial life of D'Annunzio, the debauched artist who became a national hero. His evolution from idealist Romantic to radical right-wing revolutionary is a political parable. Through his ideological journey, culminating in the failure of the Fiume endeavour, we witness the political turbulence of early 20th century Europe and the emergence of fascism.             In `The Pike', Hughes-Hallett addresses the cult of nationalism and the origins of political extremism - and at the centre of the book stands the charismatic D'Annunzio: a figure as deplorable as he is fascinating.\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56219978105205,"sku":"9780007213962","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780007213962.jpg?v=1762185709","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9780007213962","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}