Adrian Lyttelton, who has aged 89, was one of the leading historians of Italian fascism. He was known above all for his groundbreaking study of the origins and early development of the fascist movement, The Seizure of Power: Fascism in Italy, a work which, first published in 1973, remains the standard text for anyone approaching the subject today. For me he was, first, the kindest of teachers, then, for more than 50 years, a colleague and great friend.
Adrian was the youngest son of Oliver Lyttelton, Winston Churchill’s minister of production during the second world war, later raised to the peerage as Viscount Chandos. His mother was Lady Moira Osborne, daughter of George Osborne, the 10th Duke of Leeds. Adrian followed the traditional family path of Eton and Oxford, although at Eton, unlike his Lyttelton forebears, he was known not for his cricketing skills but for his quick-witted humour.
