Il Canale di Suez e l'Italia (1856–1869) [The Suez Canal and Italy (1856–1869)] by Andrea Giuntini (review)

Reviewed by:

• Il Canale di Suez e l'Italia (1856–1869) [The Suez Canal and Italy (1856–1869)] by Andrea Giuntini
• Simone Fari (bio)

Il Canale di Suez e l'Italia (1856–1869) [The Suez Canal and Italy (1856–1869)] By Andrea Giuntini. Pisa Ospedaletto: Pacini Editore, 2021. Pp. 174.

Andrea Giuntini's Il Canale di Suez e l'Italia is an insightful and meticulously researched exploration of the Italian experience surrounding the design, construction, and inauguration of the Suez Canal. Giuntini offers a fresh perspective on this historical landmark by delving into a wide array of primary and secondary sources, including articles, books, and travel memoirs written by Italians who were intimately involved in the canal's development. This multifaceted narrative paints a rich and vivid picture of the multifarious roles played by Italians in this monumental project.

The book seamlessly merges meticulous research with a fluid and accessible writing style, making it an engaging and informative read for both scholars and general readers. Giuntini's adept storytelling techniques bring to life a diverse cast of characters who, while individually modest in their roles, collectively played a pivotal part in the realization of the Suez Canal. From influential political figures to enterprising industrialists and diligent laborers, Giuntini sheds light on the various societal strata that contributed to the canal's development, adding depth and texture to the narrative and reflecting the intricacies of nineteenth-century Italian society.

The book carefully dissects the aspirations and contributions of Italians from different walks of life, providing a nuanced understanding of their collective engagement. Among the key players were influential politicians who were instrumental in Italy's unification and who saw the Suez Canal as a means to bolster the nation's economic and political stature on the world stage. Concurrently, forward-thinking entrepreneurs recognized the canal's potential to expand their commercial interests, underlining the economic foresight that characterized the Italian engagement in the project.

Notably, Giuntini emphasizes the active role played by Italian trade chambers, which tirelessly advocated for the protection of their members' interests and actively promoted investment in the canal's construction. This [End Page 729] underscores the multidimensional nature of Italian support for the canal, highlighting a determined collective effort to partake in the opportunities presented by this transformative infrastructure.

The Italian workforce that contributed to the canal's construction was equally diverse and skilled. Experienced engineers, adept at addressing the unique challenges posed by sandy terrains, collaborated with diplomats who actively promoted Italy's prominent role in the project. Giuntini's analysis encapsulates the spectrum of Italian expertise and engagement. The book also pays homage to the grand inaugural festivities, attended by prominent Italian politicians, aristocrats, and entrepreneurs, a testament to the widespread optimism and enthusiasm that characterized the era.

However, as Giuntini aptly elucidates, the Suez Canal's envisioned prosperity eluded Italy, revealing the nation's technological and financial constraints that hindered its ability to fully capitalize on the canal's strategic potential. Within a few decades of its inauguration, Italy came to terms with the sobering realization that the Suez Canal alone could not catapult the nation into becoming a dominant economic and political force in the Mediterranean region.

Giuntini has conducted a comprehensive review of the historical literature concerning the Suez Canal's inception and development. Situated within the trajectory of traditional transport history, Giuntini views the Suez Canal primarily as an infrastructure project that significantly amplified transport, trade, and communications during the Second Industrial Revolution. Additionally, his work is firmly embedded in the framework of global history and the history of globalization, considering the disruptive impact of the Suez Canal in accelerating the various flows of goods, people, and information that collectively constitute globalization itself.

It is worth noting that Giuntini's approach to the existing literature is not overtly critical; rather, he strives to extract valuable insights for an innovative and contemporary interpretation. He seamlessly integrates his work into the paradigm of mobilities studies, a field that has gained prominence in recent decades, of which Giuntini himself has been an active proponent. His utilization of historical mobilities sources, as defined by Colin Pooley, underscores the dynamism and interconnectedness inherent in the Suez...