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  • Sicily '43

  • The First Assault on Fortress Europe
  • By: James Holland
  • Narrated by: Al Murray
  • Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (472 ratings)
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Sicily '43

By: James Holland
Narrated by: Al Murray
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the best-selling author of Normandy ‘44 comes a major new history of one of World War II’s most crucial campaigns.

Code-named Operation HUSKY, the Allied assault on Sicily on 10 July 1943 remains the largest amphibious invasion ever mounted in world history, landing more men in a single day than at any other time. That day, more than 160,000 British, American and Canadian troops were dropped from the sky or came ashore, more than on D-Day just under a year later. It was also preceded by an air campaign that marked a new direction and dominance of the skies by Allies.

The subsequent 38-day Battle for Sicily was one of the most dramatic of the entire Second World War, involving daring raids by special forces, deals with the Mafia, attacks across mosquito-infested plains and perilous assaults up almost sheer faces of rock and scree.

It was a brutal campaign - the violence was extreme, the heat unbearable, the stench of rotting corpses intense and all-pervasive, the problems of malaria, dysentery and other diseases a constant plague. And all while trying to fight a way across an island of limited infrastructure and unforgiving landscape and against a German foe who would not give up.

It also signalled the beginning of the end of the War in the West. From here on, Italy ceased to participate in the war, the noose began to close around the neck of Nazi Germany and the coalition between the United States and Britain came of age. Most crucially, it would be a critical learning exercise before Operation OVERLORD, the Allied invasion of Normandy, in June 1944.

Based on his own battlefield studies in Sicily and on much new research over the past 30 years, James Holland’s Sicily ’43 offers a vital new perspective on a major turning point in World War II. It is a timely, powerful and dramatic account by a master military historian and will fill a major gap in the narrative history of the Second World War.

©2020 James Holland (P)2020 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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BigBadBurt

A fantastic audio book & read brilliantly by Al Murray.
One of the many things I really like about James Holland books is the attention to detail & the unbiased views he puts into every book he writes about WW2

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Put up with Al Murray he does come good

As ever James Holland at his best, the earlier part of the book for the background and operational level I found the narrator not up to relaying the emphasis needed, Al is at his best at telling the soldiers' stories which will live with me for a long time

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A Fresh look at the Sicilian Campaign

James & Al bring the Sicilian Campaign vividly to life. A fascinating story well worth hearing.

James Holland once again broadens our understanding of the Second World War, and raise the importance of the Mediterranean theatre.

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And endless list of place names and units

I couldn't finish this. It was just an endless list of place names and units and without a map, it was pretty boring. It might have been boring with a map even, because although the narrator did quite well, he has a thin, reedy voice and he tended to be fairly monotone. There was no excitement.

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Brilliant

I really enjoyed this book and Al Murray’s narration. So many interesting stories and facts. A much underrated battle.

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Fascinating

Really well researched and written, one of Holland's best books - I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Second World War

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short review

both informative and comprehensive with stories from all sides.
Al Murray narrates wonderfully.
I recommend this to anyone interested in the Mediterranean campaign.

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Brilliantly written and researched

As usual James Holland has researched his subject with detail looking for insights that other historians fail to grasp as well. His more sympathetic assessments of events, personalities and perspectives is brilliant. He also makes it all hang together as an entertaining story to keep the listener engaged as well as informed. Brilliantly narrated by Al Murray. A must read for anyone interested in this period of history.

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Engrossing, excellent history

As the author states there are not very many in depth accounts of Operation Husky. This one is an amazingly well researched book. It’s real appeal lies in the way the author has stitched together factual archival information and the human stories from diaries and memoirs into a seamless narrative that is fast paced and keeps you enthralled. A great piece of work ably narrated by Al Murray. Terrific

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Another James Holland masterpiece

Another James Holland masterpiece, read brilliantly by his nicker and fellow historian Al Murray. As always you can take JH’a books as a reference book, a piece of research both with depth and breadth, personal accounts of those in most challenging circumstances, or just as a story. On no front will this book miss a beat. The best piece written about this oft over-looked campaign. Stuart Orchard

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