Discovering the Life of Italy’s National Hero: Giuseppe Garibaldi
Journalist and author Jim Holden has written a captivating book, Via Garibaldi: On the Trail of Italy’s Hero, which offers a fresh and accessible portrait of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the figure most closely associated with the creation of modern Italy. Published by Amberley Publishing in January 2026, the book takes readers on a journey across the cities and towns that shaped Garibaldi’s story.
A Journey Through Garibaldi’s Life
From Genoa to Rome, Ravenna to Marsala, Palermo, Naples, Turin, Venice, and Florence, and finally London, Holden follows Garibaldi’s path in chronological order, blending biography with travel writing. The narrative opens in London, where Garibaldi arrived 160 years ago to scenes of extraordinary public enthusiasm, with an estimated half a million people gathering around Trafalgar Square. The book then moves through the decisive episodes of his life, from bloody battles and revolutionary exploits to turbulent private affairs and repeated clashes with authority that led to imprisonment.
A Cultural Companion to Italy
Written in a vivid, journalistic style, Via Garibaldi is aimed at history lovers, travellers, and Italophiles, but also works as a cultural companion for those visiting Italy. Holden’s approach places Garibaldi firmly in the landscapes, streets, and cities that still bear his imprint, offering readers a way to connect Italy’s past with the places they encounter today. As a former chief sports writer of the Sunday Express and current adjunct professor at the American University of Rome, Holden’s long relationship with the country informs a narrative that combines admiration with critical distance.
Book Presentation in Rome
The book will be presented in Rome with a public event at the Museum of the Roman Republic and Garibaldi Memory, a venue closely tied to Garibaldi’s legacy and the history of the Roman Republic. The event will take place on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at 4.00 pm, and admission is free, subject to availability. For more information, call 060608 or visit www.museodellarepubblicaromana.it.
Early Reviews and Praise
Early reviews praise the book for its originality and narrative drive. Writing in The Guardian, Richard Williams describes it as a portrait that “vibrates with the author’s love of his adopted home”, while Mara Minasi, director of the Museo della Repubblica Romana e della Memoria Garibaldina, calls it “a fresh and captivating way to look at Italy’s most charismatic hero”. To learn more about Via Garibaldi: On the Trail of Italy’s Hero and Jim Holden’s work, visit Here.