About:
The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau by Alex Kershaw is a non-fiction book about the amazing journey of officer (later General) Felix L. Sparks. The book is an excellent, well researched account of soldiers on the ground and the liberation of Dachau.
The publisher is giving away one copy to three (3) winners of this book –to enter fill out the Rafflecoptter form at the end of the post.
My rating for The Liberator — 5
Buy this book in paper or electronic format*
Thoughts:
The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau by Alex Kershaw is a dramatic narrative which follows Felix L. Sparks from joining the Army as a way out of the Great Depression to his death in 2007. Mr. Kershaw interviewed Sparks before he died which adds to the authenticity and reliability of the story.
Sparks, the only man to survive the war from his original company, is portrayed as a man of courage, intelligence and integrity. There are numerous times when Sparks, commander in the 45th “Thunderbird” Division of the National Guard, risks his life to save his men, protecting them and flirting with danger instead of sitting on the sidelines.
Felix L. Sparks
The book describes the day to day grind that the soldiers had to endure, choke full of details not only of the big picture, but the small stuff that matters every day. A very poignant part is the liberation of the concentration camp Dachau, the soldiers couldn’t believe what they were seeing, and even I had a difficult time reading about the horrors which ensued in the camp.
The book is fast paced, telling a remarkable story in an easily read narrative. The story is not always easy to read, but always exciting and interesting celebrating one of the many heroes of “The Greatest Generation”.
Related Reads:
Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose
Gated Grief by Leila Levinson
Synopsis:
Joining the Army to get away from the depression, 25 year-old Felix Spars arrives in Italy as a captain in the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Division – the Thunderbirds. Sparks proves to be a natural leader and a man of high intelligence, moral and respectability leading his men in 4 amphibious invasions, through the rough mountainous terrains of Italy and France and winter combat against the SS on the German border.
Somehow Sparks survives, one of the few in his unit to survive the bloody march, and is put in charge to lead the hunt for Hitler into Bavaria. However, Sparks and his man stumble onto the notorious concentration camp Dachau whose horrors force them to struggle with their humanity and sense of revenge.
Buy this book in paper or electronic format*
Congratulations: mbaron@, sammycoville@, name as email, bethvollbach@
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account
BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read The Liberator? If so link up your review below:
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My email: bethvollbach(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
I'm so glad this post is up! I guess I was too anxious last night and this morning when I looked for it because I'd really like to win this book. Thanks!
I follow this blog by email, and I also follow/like on Facebook (although I'm not techeditor on Facebook). I'd give my name in the Rafflecoptor form, but you didn't have a dialog box for it. I won't leave it here because I use my real name on Facebook.
Would love to win! This book looks fantastic.
Best,
Danielle
http://thereaderscommute.blogspot.com
thereaderscommute@gmail.com
Please Enter Me In Your Book Giveaway.
It Would Be Great To Win A Copy Of
The Liberator By Alex Kershaw
I Don't Know If You Wanted Me To Put My Email In My Comment
But I Don't Feel Comfortable Doing That.
Thank You For Having This Giveaway.
erkrueger at hotmail dot com
Thank you for doing a Remembrance Day giveaway... They truly were the Greatest Generation. Thank you.
Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca
I have a copy of this book but haven't read it yet. Glad to see it's well done.
Sounds like an interesting book, Zohan. You always find interesting and occasionally esoteric (auto)biographies / memoirs.
I wrote a somewhat critical review of "The Liberator" and author Alex Kershaw sent me a message to "f*** off": http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/the-liberator-by-alex-kershaw/
Thanks for sharing, interesting views and several valid points.