The volume traces Italy's nineteenth-century political struggle, detailing secret societies and early uprisings, the spread of liberal and nationalist ideas through literary and political circles, and the evolution from insurrectionary attempts to broader popular revolts. It examines ideological currents and organizers, the mid-century revolutionary wave with its regional republics and papal reaction, the ensuing military campaigns and defeats, and the emergence of Piedmont as the leading force through diplomatic maneuvering and annexations. Throughout, cultural shifts, the decline of some revolutionary strains, and the rise of new political schools are evaluated.