It is true that expansionism under Fascism did not, for a long time, receive the attention that it deserved. This period of historiographic and literary amnesia has now, however, come to a close. As regards literary production, recent years have seen the publication of a number of highly regarded works – by such well-known writers as Gabriella Ghermandi or Igiaba Scego – that have used the novel as a means of exploring the legacies of empire. The article explores one of the most recent additions to this body of work, Francesca Melandri’s Sangue giusto (Milan: Rizzoli, 2017). More specifically, it addresses the theme of secrets and their revelation that lies at the heart of the novel. It asks what are the social and psychological ramifications of the discovery of the nature of imperial conquest under fascism. It explores how the novel interacts with the writing of those transnational African/ Italian authors who have confronted the legacy of Italy’s colonial past. The article considers the overall vision that Sangue giusto offers of Italy’s relationship with Ethiopia, of the conceptual universe of colonialism, and of the enduring topicality of the memory of Italy’s imperial past.

中文翻译：

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秘密与谎言：Francesca Melandri 的 Sangue Giusto (2017) 和意大利东非未揭露的记忆

的确，法西斯主义下的扩张主义在很长一段时间内并没有受到应有的关注。然而，这段历史和文学遗忘的时期现在已经结束。在文学创作方面，近年来出版了许多备受推崇的作品——由 Gabriella Ghermandi 或 Igiaba Scego 等知名作家创作——利用小说作为探索帝国遗产的手段。这篇文章探讨了该作品的最新补充之一，Francesca Melandri 的 Sangue giusto（米兰：Rizzoli，2017 年）。更具体地说，它解决了小说核心的秘密及其启示的主题。它询问发现法西斯主义下帝国征服的性质会产生什么社会和心理影响。它探讨了小说如何与那些面临意大利殖民历史遗产的跨国非洲/意大利作家的写作互动。文章考虑了 Sangue giusto 提供的意大利与埃塞俄比亚关系、殖民主义的概念世界以及意大利帝国历史记忆的持久话题的整体愿景。