Until the latter part of the twentieth century, Italy's colonial past was a largely neglected topic in historical studies. Before then, only a handful of historians had shown any inclination for rescuing it from the dusty shelves of history, to which it had been relegated. With a few exceptions - most notably Angelo Del Boca - not many had the courage to venture into such treacherous territory. Colonial studies experienced a resurgence at the start of the new millennium. This book addresses the relationship between national identity and colonial culture in Italy