In the second volume of his epic trilogy about the liberation of Europe in World War II, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Atkinson tells the harrowing story of the campaigns in Sicily and Italy.

Reviews

Atkinson (An Army at Dawn) continues his "Liberation Trilogy" by taking the listener from the planning of the 38-day battle for Sicily through the long haul up the Italian peninsula with the combined ease of both a gifted storyteller and a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. His effort here is an outstanding addition to this often overlooked chapter of modern history. Frankly, these battles were bloody on both sides but necessary to chip away slowly at the mammoth Axis territory and to build the confidence of the Allies. In addition to the many lessons learned, these battles separated the "capable from the incapable" leaders and made some names world famous: Patton, Eisenhower, Audie Murphy, Gen. Mark Clark, and Ernie Pyle, to name a few. From the Battle at Gella in Sicily to the disaster at Anzio, this work is indeed a page-turner. It also offers a fair depiction of the events, even showing the divisions in the Anglo-American alliance and the problems between the Italians and the Germans. Jonathan Davis's performance is both engaging and thoughtful. Recommended for all libraries, especially those with collections in military affairs and American history. [Also available as downloadable audio from Audible.com.--Ed.]--Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.