Sicily '43. James Holland

The Sicily campaign had huge ramifications and it was absolutely crucial to the Allied effort in the war for several reasons: it was the vital gateway to confronting Nazi Germany on European soil; it was the first collaborative campaign between the US and UK on equal footing, after which the military coalition became closely coordinated; it largely knocked Italy, a key Nazi ally, out of the war; the invasion was a critical learning experience prior to the D-Day invasion eleven months later. The story is incredibly dramatic, from the longest amphibious landing in history to pitched battles on land and sea and in the air, to secret deals with the Mafia. The 38-day Sicily campaign is an underpublished area of World War II history, despite its great importance. The last big book on Sicily alone was a Carlo D’Este’s Bitter Victory , published originally in 1988 and reissued in paperback in 2008. The Day of Battle , by Rick Atkinson, also published 12 years ago in 2008 and part of his WWII trilogy, covers the Sicily campaign and the campaign for Italy; the crucial 38 days in Sicily are a small part of it. Much new research on the Sicily campaign has emerged in the last decade and James Holland has undertaken more on-the-ground research in Sicily than any historian, uncovering documents and records nobody else has had access to. Surprising new details include the arrangement the Allies made with the Mafia, about which Holland writes: “I’ve made some connections that I don’t think anyone else has spotted.” James Holland is a rising star among military and WWII historians. His great skills lie in narrating the big picture through the experiences of those who lived through events, leaders and rank-and-file on all sides; and in always incorporating the logistical side of warfare into the battles themselves. He is a superb storyteller and riveting speaker. We have sold more than 110,000 copies of Holland’s books in all formats, and each of his last three books has been his bestselling title. Holland’s most recent Normandy ‘44 was named an Amazon Best History Book of the Year So Far and was one of the bestselling of all the 30-odd D-Day books published in conjunction with the anniversary with almost 25,000 copies sold in hardcover. Normandy ’44 , Big Week , The Rise of Germany , and The Allies Strike Back were all main selections of Military History Book Club. Holland is a house author, with two more books under contract, and his following in the US grows with each book. He has an open invitation to speak at the World War II Museum in New Orleans and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, among other venues. He gets speaking invitations in the US frequently. Holland has established a documentary film company, and his first production is a three-part film tied to Normandy ’44 , largely narrated by Holland on location in Normandy. It will come out on Amazon Prime on May 14, in time for the paperback publication. His second documentary, now in the works, is tied to Sicily ’43 , and will be ready to air on Amazon Prime in conjunction with the book’s publication. Holland’s regular podcast has now hit more than 1.5 million downloads, with 150,000 in the US—a number that is growing fast. It’s raising his profile rapidly. Holland directs the popular Chalke Valley History Festival every summer in the UK.