Renzo De Felice, Historian, Dies

ROME - Renzo De Felice, a world renowned scholar and historian of Italy's Fascist period, died yesterday. He was 67.

No cause of death was given by his wife, Livia De Ruggiero, who said only that his health had been declining. Mr. De Felice died at their home in Rome, she said.

A prolific author, Mr. De Felice wrote more than a dozen books on Fascism and its architect, dictator Benito Mussolini. His other books explored the political and economic history of Italy.

His works were characterized by a even-handed evaluation of the Fascist period, a marked contrast to the highly charged opinions about Mussolini that still persist. Many Italians vilify Mussolini, while a core of neo-Fascists laud his accomplishments.

Mr. De Felice explored all aspects of the two decades of Fascism: Mussolini's strict racial laws, the persecution of Italian Jews and Mussolini's alliance with Nazi Germany. Some of his most attention-grabbing research centered on anti-Fascist partisans.

Mr. De Felice portrayed the partisan movement as much smaller than the popular image of a groundswell against Mussolini. In his last book, "Il Rosso e il Nero" (The Red and the Black), Mr. De Felice contended that British secret agents had a role in Mussolini's death, contradicting the common view that Mussolini was captured and killed by the resistance.

His opinions earned him critics. In February, a gasoline bomb was thrown against his apartment in Rome but caused no damage.

Italy's premier, Romano Prodi, honored Mr. De Felice for "prying open difficult pages" in Italy's modern history.