Looking for good books on the Italian campaign

I'm looking for some good, well-written, non-fiction accounts of battles or actions or unit histories during the WW2 Italian campaign anytime from the invasion of Sicily, up to the end of the war. Either British or American. I'm interested in the experiences of individual soldiers or small units - platoons up to companies, not so much big-picture stuff, except to the extent that we need it for added perspective.

It's important to me that it be well-written. I read lots of military history and for some reason this genre seems to attract more than its fair share of bad writing, cliches, purple prose, etc, that would never make it past a community-college introductory writing class. Maybe it's just Sturgeon's Law.

Two examples of books that I consider to be GOOD writing would be Company Commander by Charles MacDonald, and The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan. I'm looking for books of that type and caliber, but for the Italian campaign.

On one site someone suggested 'The Day of Battle' by Rick Atkinson. I read his 'Army at Dawn' about North Africa and, while it was excellent, I'm really looking for something more personal and small-unit - not so much generals, but privates, sergeants and lieutenants.

Thanks in advance.

 

Have a look here for the US perspective of the mediterranean campaign:

Mediterranean Theater of Operations - The U.S. Army in World War II Series - U.S. Army Center of Military History

 

Try The Fortress by Raleigh Travelyan.

 

Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang. Well written and very, very depressing.

 

At least two of Spike Milligan's memoir volumes deal with the Italian campaign. Be careful, though; much as I love Spikey he isn't always accurate.

 

For the US: Audie Murphy, To Hell and Back.

 

Thanks; that sounds good.

 

This sounds too much like an overarching history, whereas I'm looking for the experiences of the individual soldiers at the platoon or company level. That's why I referenced the two examples I did, and I think the Travelyan that staffsyeoman suggested looks like a good example too. I want to experience the Italian campaign from the perspective of the enlisted men or low-ranking officers.

 

Thanks! Murphy fought in Italy, France, and Germany. Is there enough Italy in that book to fit the bill? I couldn't tell from the Amazon description.

 

I have not read the book myself, but I believe Murphy was with the 3rd Infantry Division in Sicily, at the Mignano Gap, and at Anzio. That is a lot of tough fighting.

 

... maybe this one is more of your liking; detailed study of the actions at Monte Altuzzo. Small unit combat: http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/011/11-7-1/CMH_Pub_11-7-1.pdf

 

'Recollections of Rifleman Bowlby' by Alex Bowlby. Well written memoir by British private. He also wrote 'Countdown to Cassino: The Battle of Mignano Gap, 1943', an operational history with a significant amount from the perspective of the front line soldier.

 

plnelson

Just came across your thread and was just about to think of recommending a few books when I spotted the posting by Gibbo immediately above.

I too have enjoyed The Recollections of Rifleman Bowlby and I think you could do a lot worse than by starting there.

From my own small library i have cherry-picked the following:

Battleaxe division by Ken ford
Monte Cassino by Mathew Parker
The Campaign in Italy by Eric Linklater

Be advised, these books serve different purposes (for example, the Linklater book is as dry as dust but is super for checking dates and units) whereas the Rifleman Bowlby is very much the history of an individual but makes excellent reading.

Enjoy your research and come back to this thread occasionally to see what others recommend.

Ron

 

I confess that I've never read it myself, but Charlie Company by Peter Cochrane might meet your requirements:

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Company-Service-Highlanders-1940-1944/dp/1862273650

 

I highly recommend this book, Once a Patricia, as suggested to me by the a DDay Dodger by the name of Tom Canning.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiyrf_X9_zOAhVs7YMKHQ2oA-8QFggcMAA&url=http://www.borealispress.com/onceapatricia.shtml&usg=AFQjCNHH6fWuPGXeYeUu7DCW1D70KEt4bg&bvm=bv.131783435,d.amc

As well, the Canadians in Italy by Daniel Dancocks is a very good read.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiyrf_X9_zOAhVs7YMKHQ2oA-8QFggcMAA&url=http://www.borealispress.com/onceapatricia.shtml&usg=AFQjCNHH6fWuPGXeYeUu7DCW1D70KEt4bg&bvm=bv.131783435,d.amc

 

If you go to my website at www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk and click on the FAQs & Reading List tab, you will find every book that I have ever read on the Italian Campaign.

Regards

Frank

 

Thank you, all! Lots of good suggestions here! Yesterday I ordered the Travelyan, and the Mauldin suggested by Owen. I'll take a look at the new suggestions today and order some more.

You know, I posted this same question on several different military history forums and on some I go no response at all, but this forum has really come through! Right now I'm laid up,in pain recovering from back surgery. I find that reading about what other guys went through and persevered and overcame and ultimately achieved, whether it was taking that hill or just hunkered down in a wet foxhole under bombardment in the rain, motivates and inspires me through my pain and physical therapy. Thanks again.

 

Here's an interesting one I've just pulled off my shelf. Episodic but a valuable perspective on the top of the military food chain (author was his aide-de-camp):



Fairly light reading.

 

As you say, it's at the top of the food chain, but I'm really looking for bottom of the food (command) chain - the dogface in the foxhole (or is it the foxface in the doghole - I can't tell; I'm on pain meds for my surgery just now) but it looked interesting enough that I've ordered a copy anyway. So there. Thank you!