Looking for good books on the Italian campaign

I'm looking for some good, well-written, non-fiction accounts of battles or actions or unit histories during the WW2 Italian campaign anytime from the invasion of Sicily, up to the end of the war. Either British or American. I'm interested in the experiences of individual soldiers or small units - platoons up to companies, not so much big-picture stuff, except to the extent that we need it for added perspective.

It's important to me that it be well-written. I read lots of military history and for some reason this genre seems to attract more than its fair share of bad writing, cliches, purple prose, etc, that would never make it past a community-college introductory writing class. Maybe it's just Sturgeon's Law.

Two examples of books that I consider to be GOOD writing would be Company Commander by Charles MacDonald, and The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan. I'm looking for books of that type and caliber, but for the Italian campaign.

On one site someone suggested 'The Day of Battle' by Rick Atkinson. I read his 'Army at Dawn' about North Africa and, while it was excellent, I'm really looking for something more personal and small-unit - not generals, but privates, sergeants and lieutenants.

Thanks in advance.

 

You can't get a better angle from the common soldier than "Up Front" by Bill Mauldin. Also you might give "The GI War" by Ralph G. Martin a try as well. It has parts that covers the Italian Campaign too.

 

I've always liked 'Once A Patricia' by C Sydney Frost. (Canadian)
http://www.borealispress.com/onceapatricia.shtml

Charlie Company by Peter Cochrane is another favourite. (British)
Here's his obit.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12070676/Major-Peter-Cochrane-obituary.html

The Fortress by Raleigh Trevelyan (British) concentrates on his time at Anzio.

 

Inimitable Ernie Pyle, a short description. I believe it was in W. Wellman's G.I. Joe that Robert Mitchum plays a Capt. Waskow - like character. Viewed from mud eye's level. movie.http://mediaschool.indiana.edu/erniepyle/1944/01/10/the-death-of-captain-waskow/

 

Good one OP. Col. (Dr.) Fisher seems top notch, thanks.

 

Thanks!! I've ordered the Frost and the Trevelyan. I'd like to get Charlie Company, too, but when I went to Amazon it listed the price as $122.15 for the paperback and the hardcover as (used) $413.57!! I'll add that to my List of things to do when I win the lottery...

 

I got my copy from a bookshop in the old cinema Hay on Wye for a few quid.
try abebooks, alot cheaper than amazon.
first result is for that bookshop
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=cochrane&sts=t&tn=charlie+company

 

I saw used copies on Amazon for as little as US $21.00. However, Owen's suggestion is much cheaper.