The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau

By Alex Kershaw

Book Overview

The untold story of the bloodiest and most dramatic march to victory of the Second World War--soon to be a Netflix original series starring Jose Miguel Vasquez, Bryan Hibbard, and Bradley James

"Exceptional . . . worthy addition to vibrant classics of small-unit history like Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers."--Wall Street Journal

Written with Alex Kershaw's trademark narrative drive and vivid immediacy, The Liberator traces the remarkable battlefield journey of maverick U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks through the Allied liberation of Europe--from the first landing in Italy to the final death throes of the Third Reich.

Over five hundred bloody days, Sparks and his infantry unit battled from the beaches of Sicily through the mountains of Italy and France, ultimately enduring bitter and desperate winter combat against the die-hard SS on the Fatherland's borders. Having miraculously survived the long, bloody march across Europe, Sparks was selected to lead a final charge to Bavaria, where he and his men experienced some of the most intense street fighting suffered by Americans in World War II.

And when he finally arrived at the gates of Dachau, Sparks confronted scenes that robbed the mind of reason--and put his humanity to the ultimate test.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307888002
• ISBN13: 9780307888006
• Release Date: October 2013
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

This book is phenomenal

Honestly, you can't go wrong with Kershaw. I have read many WWII books and yet continue to learn about issues that are never mentioned in other books. Its a binge read, at least for me.

The Amazing Story of an Amazing Hero

What an excellent book Mr. Kershaw has written! Well-researched and superbly-written, The Liberator is a work of nonfiction that reads like a fiction thriller. By the end of the book, the reader feels as if he or she has spent time with Felix Sparks and now knows him personally. At times heart-breaking, at times exhilarating, The Liberator deserves to be listed in the pantheon of great World War II literature.