What do you think?
Rate this book
Whicker's War
Alan Whicker is quite simply a legend. A visionary and master of his craft, his television shows from the fifties to the nineties almost single handed invented the language of travel television and earned him the status of one of the most foremost of British media icons. Yet throughout his forty years in TV he was steadfast in his belief that his programmes should not be about himself but about those people he encountered. Until this year when he was persuaded, as part of the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Italy, to tell his remarkable war experiences in two fabulously reviewed hour-long television pieces. This book uses these programmes as the starting point to tell the story of Alan Whicker's remarkable war. Alan Whicker joined the Army Film and Photo Unit as an 18-year-old army officer, following the Allied advance through Italy, from Sicily to Venice. He filmed the troops on the front line, met Montgomery, and other military luminaries, filmed the battered body of Mussolini after his execution and accepted the surrender of the SS in Milan. This is remarkable account of the Italian campaign of 1943 and 1944 as he retraces of his steps over sixty years later. Beautifully written, poignant with humour and pathos this is a masterful book by one of the 20th centuries greatest TV journalists.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 2, 2012
Unfortunately, I was just a bit too young fully to appreciate the seemingly endless broadcasts of “Whicker’s World” in the 1970s, and to my mind that much travelled broadcaster was more memorable for his equally endless American Express television adverts of the same period! I was too young to appreciate the subtlety of his style of tele-journalism, and I am now old enough to know better!
So, a round 2005, when a new series entitled “Whicker’s War” was broadcast, I took the risk of watching the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I watched it with my father – from Whicker’s generation and always a fan- and I came to appreciate what he, as a young Army officer had been through, fighting his way from Sicily to Venice, by way of Anzio, Monte Cassino and Rome, a parcel of World War Two about which I knew very little. I am so glad that I watched the series, and now having read the book, I know much more not only about Alan Whicker, C.B.E., but also that part of the war.
Written in what is clearly Whicker’s trademark tongue-in-cheek style, a sometimes unusual but always beautiful use of English, I have somehow come to regard him as an old friend. When on one of those obscure digital television channels there next appears a re-run of “Whicker’s World”, I shall be reaching for the Record button of my television, since I have no doubt that I would most enjoyably profit from the Whicker view of so many other parts of the World.
Undoubtedly a superb book, especially for lovers of Alan Whicker, but also for those with an interest in the War, and the Italian campaign.
So, a round 2005, when a new series entitled “Whicker’s War” was broadcast, I took the risk of watching the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I watched it with my father – from Whicker’s generation and always a fan- and I came to appreciate what he, as a young Army officer had been through, fighting his way from Sicily to Venice, by way of Anzio, Monte Cassino and Rome, a parcel of World War Two about which I knew very little. I am so glad that I watched the series, and now having read the book, I know much more not only about Alan Whicker, C.B.E., but also that part of the war.
Written in what is clearly Whicker’s trademark tongue-in-cheek style, a sometimes unusual but always beautiful use of English, I have somehow come to regard him as an old friend. When on one of those obscure digital television channels there next appears a re-run of “Whicker’s World”, I shall be reaching for the Record button of my television, since I have no doubt that I would most enjoyably profit from the Whicker view of so many other parts of the World.
Undoubtedly a superb book, especially for lovers of Alan Whicker, but also for those with an interest in the War, and the Italian campaign.
December 30, 2015
Alan Whicker is a well know , respected broadcaster, one of the creators in 1957 of the BBC's famous "Tonight Program." In 1967 he joined ITV's new Yorkshire Television where he wrote and produced over 300 of his highly regarded "Whicker's World." In addition, he has written a number of very well acclaimed travel books that are informative and entertaining. During World War II, he become a member of the British Army's AFPU Team-"Army Film and Photo Unit." In his role as a member of this unit he saw the entire Italian Campaign from Sicily through to the surrender of the German Forces in 1945 . This terrific , well written and interestingly told "Story" is Alan Whicker's autobiographical journey sixty years after the end of the fighting in Italy. I urge everyone interested in first hand experiences during times of great stress, i.e. savage combat during World War II, to read this book. Whicker has the eye of an artist and the touch of a superb story teller that brings alive these incredible events. I believe his chapters on the Anzio landing, followed by four months of being under constant siege, are the most compelling and informative insights into "What combat is truly like." His insights into the commanders of both German and Allied forces makes fascinating reading and bringing to light, attitudes and behaviors rarely discussed in most military history studies. Oh the price in combat for a General's ego! You will enjoy this book and be very pleased you have taken the time to join Alan Whicker on his journey back in time.
Read
August 6, 2011An extremely interesting and entertaining account of a war photographer's experiences of WWII and the battle for Italy, told in the inimitable Whicker style. He draws a graphic picture of the horrors of total war as the Allies fought their way out of North Africa and onto Scicily, before invading mainland Italy.
He is full of praise for the courage and stoicism of the average soldier, on both sides, but his venom is reserved for the incompetent, vain and indecisive American General Mark Clark, whose procrastination at the disastrous battle of Anzio and self-serving ambition to be the first into Rome almost certainly added an extra year to the war and cost thousands of Allied lives.
A superb read that adds significantly to our knowledge of the events leading up to the end of WWII from someone who was there in the front line at many of the significant battles and can give first-hand witness testimony.
He is full of praise for the courage and stoicism of the average soldier, on both sides, but his venom is reserved for the incompetent, vain and indecisive American General Mark Clark, whose procrastination at the disastrous battle of Anzio and self-serving ambition to be the first into Rome almost certainly added an extra year to the war and cost thousands of Allied lives.
A superb read that adds significantly to our knowledge of the events leading up to the end of WWII from someone who was there in the front line at many of the significant battles and can give first-hand witness testimony.
August 28, 2010
Yeah, I know the book is by Alan Whicker but I was on holiday and desperate for a read so picked this up off the shelf...
...and actually, it wasn't that bad at all. An interesting account of Mr W's WWW2 days from landing at Naples to seeing off the Nazis via Milan.
...and actually, it wasn't that bad at all. An interesting account of Mr W's WWW2 days from landing at Naples to seeing off the Nazis via Milan.
July 3, 2010
Interesting read
October 20, 2013
Another book you can't help but read in the voice of the author. If war was like this now the BBC would be making up new superlatives every day. Amazing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews