Fascism and Communism

In his major work on communism, the international bestseller The Passing of an Illusion, the eminent French historian Franois Furet devoted a lengthy footnote to German historian Ernst Noltes interpretation of fascism. Nolte responded, a correspondence ensued, and the result was the remarkable exchange presented in this volume. Fascism and Communism offers readers the rare opportunity to witness and learn from a confrontation between two of the worlds most distinguished historians over one of the most serious subjects of our time, the history and meaning of the attack on liberal democracy by fascism and communism. Far more than an exchange of opposing views between scholars but rather an instance of that rarity, a true dialogue, the letters in this volume give a uniquely informed and insightful overview of the history of the twentieth century, beginning with the enormous impact of World War I, and of the ties and essential differences between the three "tyrannies" of the century: fascism, Nazism, and communism. Analysing the interdependence of these phenomena with regard to ideas and then to passions, Furets and Noltes arguments help readers to understand not only the nature of totalitarianism but also the trajectory and interpretation of modern European history in general. Franois Furet (1927-1997) was one of Frances most respected historians. His books include The Passing of an Illusion: The Idea of Communism in the Twentieth Century and Revolutionary France, 1770-1880. Ernst Nolte is a leading German historian and the author of such books as Marxism, Fascism, Cold War and Three Faces of Fascism: Action Francaise, Italian Fascism, National Socialism. Katherine Golsan, assistant professor of French at the University of the Pacific, is cotranslator of Tzvetan Todorovs Life in Common: An Essay in General Anthropology (Nebraska 2001).