In this gripping episode of This is Cobblers, we uncover the astonishing story of Violet Gibson, the Irishwoman who attempted to assassinate Benito Mussolini in 1926. Born into an aristocratic family, Violet lived a life of privilege before becoming disillusioned with politics and fascism.

On April 7, 1926, in Rome, she fired a pistol at Mussolini from close range, narrowly missing his head. Despite her attempt to change history, she was quickly overpowered and arrested. Instead of being celebrated for her resistance, Violet was declared insane and spent the rest of her life in an asylum, her story largely forgotten.

We explore her motivations, the aftermath of her failed assassination, and how history remembers her today. Was she a lone radical, or was she ahead of her time in recognizing the dangers of fascism?

But what does this have to do with Northamptonshire? Tune in to This is Cobblers to find out!

This episode is a production of T2 Production

Presenter: James Turner

Text: Valeria Mizuno-Turner

Producer: Valeria Mizuno-Turner

Assistant Producer: Leon Turner