Selena Daly
Historian of modern Italy and Associate Professor of Italian Studies at University College London; author of Emigrant Soldiers: Mobilising Italians Abroad in the First World War (Cambridge UP, 2025).
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Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 4min
Selena Daly, "Emigrant Soldiers: Mobilising Italians Abroad in the First World War" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Selena Daly, a historian of modern Italy and Associate Professor at UCL, dives deep into the unique phenomenon of Italian emigrants who returned home to serve in WWI. She explores their motivations, diverse combat experiences, and the challenges they faced during demobilisation. Daly highlights the complicated reception of these soldiers in Italy and their struggles for reintegration, including pension issues and mixed public perceptions. She also sheds light on Mussolini's strategic outreach to cultivate loyalty among veterans. A fascinating discussion filled with untold stories!
Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 4min
Selena Daly, "Emigrant Soldiers: Mobilising Italians Abroad in the First World War" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Selena Daly, an Associate Professor of Italian Studies and historian, dives into the fascinating world of Italian emigrant soldiers during WWI. Over 300,000 returned to fight for Italy, and she explores their motivations, from patriotism to family ties. Using letters and diaries, she reconstructs their diverse experiences, including the challenges of reintegration and identity strains at the front. Daly also examines the chaotic aftermath of war, the difficulties of demobilization, and how policies from Mussolini affected these veterans. A captivating journey into a unique historical phenomenon!
