If I began this review by stating that this is a thoroughly well researched book, it might just become redundant. It's quite clear that no author has a finer tooth comb than Caroline Moorehead. Readers can be rest assured that the author wants her readers to walk away feeling confident that they understand the historical record being examined. Yes, I felt myself sometimes becoming impatient with some of the more minuscule details like who had a cold or who bought a wool coat in Paris etc, but overall I feel that I came away with a deeper understanding of the rise of fascism in Italy and how one family fought against it. As well as how they suffered for their strong stance against Mussolini and his fascists.

Recently, I watched a film in which two characters discuss what they would have done had they been living in Europe during the Holocaust. One admitted that he always considered that he wasn't brave enough and would have kept silent. When teaching "The Diary of Anne Frank " I always have that one student who reacts with "I would never have allowed this to happen!" A beautiful sentiment of course, but in reality those who protested facism/ nazism were small in number. So, what makes a family or individuals speak out? For Amelia and her sons - it went against all that they held dear regarding human rights. They weren't won over by the promises that were being made. "A Bold and Dangerous Family" isn't a book about the Holocaust though this is an Italian Jewish family, , rather, it's a look at "resistance" to new political parties and their ideology.