Virginio Gayda

Who is Virginio Gayda?

Virginio Gayda was a prominent Italian fascist and journalist during the reign of Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party.

Gayda came to prominence as editor of Il Giornale d'Italia during the 1930s and 40's. Contemporary reportage in the press of Allied countries characterised him as a propagandist who was willing to write anything to support the regime of Benito Mussolini. Dr. Seuss lampooned Gayda, saying that "If you were to ask me, which you haven't, whom I consider the world's most outstanding writer of fantasy, I would, of course, answer: "I am." My second choice, however, is Virginio Gayda.".

Despite this, Gayda twice came into conflict with Mussolini. In the first incident, in a 1939 article titled "Che farà l'Italia?" written at the time of the Germany invasion of Poland, Gayda cast doubt on the wisdom of Italy entering the world war on the side of Germany. Mussolini, who was at that time planning to enter the war, criticised this article strongly.