L'anno terribile

Incredibly well-researched. There are accounts from English, American, Polish, German soldiers, Italian fascists and civilians. If it has a stumbling block it's the sheer number of different recurring narratives which makes it difficult to remember the stories. It's the kind of book that makes you r Leggi tutto

Prior to about two years ago, I was under the impression that the Italian front in World War II was a cakewalk compared to Normandy, North Africa, and the Pacific which we all learn so much about in school - that once Sicily was won, the rest just fell into place. As it turns out, this is not the ca Leggi tutto

This is a book that has generally been missing from most popular accounts of World War II - the detailed coverage of the campaign in Italy after the battles of Monte Cassino and Anzio. Overshadowed by D-Day and the campaign in the West, the Italian campaign post June 1944 has been generally neglecte Leggi tutto

A great narrative account of the war in Italy from the breaking of the Gothic Line at Monte Cassino to the end of the war in the Po valley. It really shines when it comes to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of the people involved. The chapter "The Reason Why" about the motivations behind the t Leggi tutto

This is my kind of book. I didn’t know much about the war in Italy, reading this book and Once a Hussar which was partly about Italy I have better understanding.

An extraordinarily detailed and well written book on the final year of the devastating war in Italy. I’m looking forward to reading more of Holland’s books. I really liked how several maps were included at the beginning with many more specific maps throughout.

It's hard for me to review books like this one. My parents met as refugees in Italy during the war and told me countless stories of their suffering. So in every WWII book that I read I am searching for my parents, knowing full well that I won't find specific mention of them. I knew them in life of c Leggi tutto