The lost diaries of Benito Mussolini

Historians are buzzing about the acquisition of the "lost" diaries of the late Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Obviously, there were skeptics, owing in no small part to the row of the now infamous "Hitler diaries".

The authenticity of the newly discovered Mussolini diaries, however, has been verified by an Italian handwriting expert, as well as the dictator's granddaughter, Alessandra who said, "I have no doubts to their authenticity". The diaries were bought from the family of an Italian partisan who was among the force that captured Mussolini in Northern Italy in the waning days of the war.

Among the biggest surprises about their content is how little Il Duce's diaries have to say about politics, dealing mostly with his family life and day to day chores. While offering little political insight into the fascist strongman, his granddaughter believes that they may offer an insight into Mussolini's "psychology".