Available in Bookstores and Online
Discover the extraordinary war diary of William Dusi, Sergeant Pilot of the Regia Aeronautica, in Ghibli: Diario dei miei cieli d’Africa tra il 1940 e 1943. This document, discovered in a box alongside photographic albums, was written in pencil on a small ruled notebook and captures Dusi’s experiences on the North African front during World War II. The diary offers a vivid and striking account of the conflict from the Italian perspective, providing a unique insight into the realities of war.
The editorial work, carried out by Roberta Rita Colombo, has been conducted with the utmost respect for the original text. No substantial modifications have been made to the diary. Instead, explanatory notes, in-depth insights, and brief reconstructions have been added to bridge gaps in the document, enriching the narrative while preserving its authenticity. The result is a powerful and genuine testimony from a young aviator who witnessed the horrors and contradictions of war first-hand.
The title Ghibli holds strong symbolic significance. It not only evokes the southeast wind that sweeps across Libya, particularly in the regions of Tripoli and Cyrenaica, but also embodies the concept of change—a force capable of transforming landscapes as dramatically as it transforms lives. Similarly, Dusi’s diary, with its raw honesty and emotional intensity, reveals a journey of patriotism, youthful enthusiasm, fear, and disillusionment, offering a profound reflection on the human condition during times of crisis.
The author Roberta Rita Colombo, explains the choice of title: “I believe that testimonies are fundamental for understanding not only the past but also the present, and that with their power they can truly change things, the way we perceive the world.”
The decision to publish this diary is driven by a dual motivation: to preserve a precious historical record from the ravages of time and to share an unpublished testimony that, despite its historical setting, offers strikingly current reflections.
As Colombo notes, “The relevance of the concepts expressed by William Dusi and the reflections found in the diary are simple yet striking—they remind us that while times change, human nature remains constant, even in the most disconcerting periods of inhumanity. In some parts, without the historical context, there are thoughts and reflections that could have been written just yesterday…”
Ghibli is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Regia Aeronautica, World War II, or the human experience during times of conflict. It is a testament to the courage of a young aviator who documented his journey through one of the most tumultuous periods in history.
Don’t miss the opportunity to discover this important chapter of Italian history. Ghibli: Diario dei miei cieli d’Africa tra il 1940 e 1943 is now available in bookstores and online.
More info: GHIBLI. Diario dei miei cieli d’Africa tra il 1940 e 1943 | Tralerighe libri
