Allanbrook is on the faculty at my alma mater, so I had something of an interest in this book for that reason. It's basically a very frank recollection of his years in Italy, both as part of the Army during World War II and afterwards, when he returned to the country on a fellowship. Actually, it's a bit confusing (yet another book that could be chronological but isn't) because it starts out with the later phase of his life and only eventually gets to his first experiences in Italy. Like one's recollections, it jumps around as one is reminded of other events. He will repeatedly relate anecdotes from a different time but the same place as he is or was reminded of them.

It is a very frank recollection, holding nothing back when it comes to dealing with his sex life throughout with both prostitutes and lovers. The style is a little convoluted. I wish at times that he'd chosen to be plain-spoken rather than clever in his choice of words.

Still, this does provide a clear view inside his head and that, at least, makes it an interesting read.

This is a wonderful book about the harsh truths of modern warfare--the constant mud, cold, and idleness, the perfidy of generals, the humble face of occasional heroism. It certainly deserves a paperback edition--should not be allowed to go out of print.

Here is an extremely talented memoirist who is particularily adept at giving us character sketches. As a civilian, this book gave me a realistic glimpse of what life as a soldier was like in WWII's European theater. I would rate this book second only to Norman Lewis' "Naples '44" if you want to get a feel for wartime Naples. That is saying a lot because Lewis is widely recognized as one of the greatest travel writers of the 20th century.