"Modern Naples" traces the history of Naples in the "tragic centuries" between the collapse of the Parthenopean Republic and the restoration of the Bourbons to the end of World War II. It then picks up the history of Naples as it began its slow and uncertain recovery from the depredations of Unification, the destruction of war, and the urban corruption and environmental degradation of Italys post-war economic "miracle."

The author presents 229 documents within the context of a larger, and continuous, narrative of the citys history, society, and economy during these centuries. Sources include...