The course of European history, and of the twentieth century, was shaped by the political ideologies of three men – Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and Francisco Franco. Heading the most hardline, repressive and destructive regimes the world had ever known, their beliefs became collectively referred to as Fascism. But to what extent were the politics of these countries similar, and what beliefs were shared by the three dictators?

The unfettered ambitions of these men and the terrible acts perpetrated by their regimes have seared lasting impressions of their political and military careers in the public mind, shaped to an extent by their own propaganda, having portrayed themselves as willful men of destiny. However, their origins belie their reputations, and reveal the ideological differences, political inconsistencies and personal rivalries between them, and the differing circumstances that brought them to lead very different regimes.

This book is the first concise biography of each dictator on his path to power from revolutionary socialist, artistic dropout, and dutiful soldier to the most notorious names in history.