Borut Klabjan, Gorazd Bajc, Battesimo di Fuoco. L’incendiodel Narodni dom di Trieste e l’Europa adriatica nel XX secolo.Bologna: Il Mulino, 2023, 416 pp.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51663/Keywords:
Contemporary History , Narodni Dom, the Slovenes in TriesteAbstract
This scientific abstract summarizes a review of the book "Battesimo di fuoco: l'incendio del Narodni dom di Trieste e l'Europa adriatica nel XX Secolo" (Baptism of Fire: The Burning of Trieste's Narodni Dom and Adriatic Europe in the 20th Century) by Borut Klabjan and Gorazd Bajc, published by Il Mulino in 2023
The book presents a comprehensive historical analysis of Trieste and the Adriatic region from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century, focusing on the burning of the Narodni Dom on July 13, 1920. This event is portrayed as a pivotal moment symbolizing the rise of proto-fascist nationalism and the decline of multicultural coexistence in the region
The authors provide a detailed examination of Trieste's transformation from an anonymous imperial periphery to a cosmopolitan urban center, exploring the city's multicultural fabric and the emergence of national identities. The study emphasizes the importance of Trieste as a microcosm for understanding broader historical dynamics in the Adriatic area.
The research employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating social, political, and anthropological perspectives. It analyzes the role of media, particularly newspapers, in shaping public opinion and exacerbating national tensions. The book also examines the impact of World War I on Trieste's social fabric and the subsequent rise of Italian nationalism.
By contextualizing the Narodni Dom incident within the larger framework of European history, the authors demonstrate how local events in Trieste presaged and reflected wider trends of nationalism and fascism. The work concludes by discussing the long-term consequences of these events on Trieste's Slovene community and the challenges of reconciliation and memory in contemporary Italy.
References
B. Klabjan, G. Bajc, Battesimo di fuoco, L'incendio del Narodni dom di Trieste e l'Europa adriatica nel XX secolo. Storia e memoria, Il Mulino, Bologna 2023;
B. Klabjan, G. Bajc, Ogenj, ki je zajel Evropo Narodni dom v Trstu 1920-2020, Cankarjeva založba, Ljubljana 2021;
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