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This is one of the best histories of WWII that I've ever read. It follows one citizen soldier's experiences from the beaches of Italy to the liberation of Dachau. It doesn't glorify war and it destroys the myth that WWII veterans didn't suffer from PTSD. I highly recommend this book. ( )

Biography of an American soldier, Felix Sparks, focusing on his experiences in WWII in Italy, France, and Germany. Sparks was one of those that survived, almost miraculously, through many battles on the front lines. He was centrally involved in the liberation of Dachau. He rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a general. Kershaw depicts Sparks as a soldier of integrity who is willing to go to bat for his men when he feels they are being unnecessarily sacrificed.

The narrative covers Sparks’ life before and after the war, but the bulk of it is about his war-time experiences. The author relied on interviews with Sparks and even found a German officer who witnessed Sparks’ heroism in rescuing wounded men on the battlefield.

The story is gripping. It vividly depicts the horrors of war as well as the courageous efforts of individual soldiers. Some of the overall strategy is included, but it is more a story of fighting on the front lines. The reader can tell that Kershaw greatly respects Sparks, but he also confronts the controversies faced during Sparks’ career.

I never tire of reading about WWII. It was a time of great struggle, sacrifice, courage, death, and even hope. I read this book in honor of Veteran’s Day.
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A lot of what I had read about World War II focused on the exploits of Easy Company from the Band of Brothers or from Operation Market Garden. It was refreshing to read about WWII from a different perspective. In Alex Kershaw’s book, The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau, I was able to learn about the operations originating in North Africa and moving northward through Sicily, Italy, and Southern France into Germany. This book follows the footsteps of Felix Sparks, an officer of the 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. It covers the five hundred plus days that he spent on the front line. Read more ( )