Two Prominent Authors Take a New Look at the Nature of Fascism
What: Borden Painter Jr., author, professor and onetime acting president of Trinity College, and Jonah Goldberg, whose book, The Secret History of the American Left, from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning, is currently No. 7 on The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, will speak at a symposium entitled, “Fresh Looks at the Nature and Scope of Fascism.”
When: Monday, March 3, 2008 at 4:15 p.m.
Where: McCook Auditorium on the Trinity College campus.
Background: Borden W. Painter Jr., ’58, who served as Trinity’s acting president in 2003-04 and also in 1994-95 and is professor of history emeritus, wrote Mussolini’s Rome: Rebuilding the Eternal City in 2005. He has had an illustrious career at Trinity, having risen through the ranks at his alma mater to become Dean of the Faculty and the 20th President of the College. Prior to that, he was a professor of history, director of Italian programs – including the Rome program and Elderhostel in Italy – chair of the History Department, and secretary of the faculty.
An honors graduate of Trinity College with a B.A. in history, he received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University and his M. Div. from General Theological Seminary. The author of numerous publications, Painter received the Mead History Prize in 1955 and was honored by Trinity in 1995 with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
Painter’s book examines the built environment of Fascist Rome, put in place over Mussolini’s 20 years in power, as a window into the political, economic, and cultural visions and goals of the Fascist movement. The book reveals Mussolini’s tremendous and lasting impact on a city that has millions of visitors each year.
Jonah Goldberg is editor-at-large of National Review Online for which he writes a conservative column, “The Goldberg File,” three times a week. He is also a contributing editor to National Review and writes a nationally syndicated column distributed by Tribune Media Services. He is a contributor to CNN and a regular panelist on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.
According to The New York Times Book Review, Goldberg spells out in his book that “it is liberalism, not conservatism, that embraces what he claims is the fascist ideal of perfecting society through a powerful state run by omniscient leaders. And it is liberals, not conservatives, who see government coercion as the key to getting things done.”
The Times’ review of Goldberg’s book goes on to note that what distinguishes Goldberg from other conservative pundits “is a witty intelligence that deals in ideas as well as insults – no mean feat in the nasty world of the culture wars.”
Publisher’s Weekly says Goldberg’s” study of the conceptual overlap between fascism and ideas emanating from the environmental movement, Hollywood, the Democratic Party and what he calls other left-wing organs is shocking and hilarious.”
The symposium is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 860-297-2562.