Shame Shadows My Name

Italian writer and philosopher Michela Marzano, known for her extensive work on ethics and politics, makes a shocking discovery in her early forties: one of her father’s given names is Benito. This revelation sparks a deep investigation into her family’s hidden past.

Shame Shadows My Name follows Marzano’s journey as she retraces the life of her grandfather Arturo, a respected magistrate who, she discovers, was a fervent supporter of Benito Mussolini and an early follower of fascism. As she delves deeper, Marzano confronts her own discomfort with the oppressive atmosphere of her upbringing – the clashes with her father and the pain caused by his disdain for her mother and brother.

Through her research, Marzano uncovers how the spectre of fascism, buried under layers of familial shame, continues to haunt behaviours and relationships. The only way forward, she argues, is to unearth these truths and face them head-on.