Lett's account is a fine mix of high adventure (with occasional farce), balanced with an understanding of the horrors of war, and the price the thousand or so people of the valley paid for supporting him and his partisans. This book is a valuable reminder of the part played by the people of Italy in their own liberation.

History of War Website

When Major Gordon Lett escaped into the mountains from a prisoner of war camp after the Italian surrender in September 1943, he did not, as did many others, attempt to reach the Allied lines, but instead remained in the area of the Rossano Valley, recruiting what would soon become an extremely successful partisan group comprising men from numerous nationalities. Commencing with his escape, the book provides a thorough description of the creation of the International Battalion and the exploits of this unique unit over the next 18 months, during which time they had so brilliantly harassed the enemy forces in the area that they were incorporated into the Allied advance plan, supplied with equipment by the air and even reinforced with a detachment of SAS troops. This is a quite remarkable account of an episode of the Second World War which has received scant attention outside of Italy and certainly deserves to be brought to a wider audience.

Pegasus Archive - Mark Hickman

This fascinating book tells of Major Letts' experiences of the Second World War in Italy. It covers his time in (and his escape from) Italian prison camps, but focuses on his time in the mountains, and the bond he formed with the people of the area as he founded and led the successful band of Battaglione Internazionale partisans. An interesting and important first-hand account of 20th-century history.

Italia!