Bruna Martini's Graphic Memoir 'Patria' Recalls Fascist Indoctrination of Childhood

Bruna Martini's graphic memoir 'Patria. Crescere in tempo di guerra' (BeccoGiallo, 2021) recounts the childhood of her aunt Graziella Mapelli, who grew up under Italian Fascism. The book blends drawings, collages, and archival materials such as old photos, letters to soldiers, school report cards, and newspaper clippings. Martini conducted video interviews with her aunt and collected authentic objects from the Ventennio at flea markets and antique shops, noting the lack of critical cataloging of these mass-produced items. The memoir aims to expose the insidious indoctrination of youth by the Fascist regime, particularly in schools, and to preserve the memory of a generation that directly experienced World War II. Martini emphasizes the scarcity of historiography on Fascist education, especially from a female perspective. The book's poetic tone and childlike rhymes make it accessible to young readers, serving as a cautionary tale against the resurgence of Fascism, which Martini observes is still present among adolescents today. Graziella, born in 1930, was the eldest of seven siblings, studied accounting in Bergamo, moved to Lecco, and worked as an accountant, but her passion was children; she never married or had children but remains surrounded by nieces and nephews. The book is a 'passaggio di testimone' between generations, urging readers not to forget the atrocities of the past.