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Spike Milligan

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Mussolini Paperback – January 1, 2012

by Spike Milligan (Author)

4.6 1,211 ratings

Book 4 of 7: Milligan Memoirs

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Britannia rules the waves TA-RA, but on occasions she waives the rules and Spike is all set to liberate -gasp- Italy. In this fourth volume of war memoirs, Lance-Bombardier Milligan (Spike actually) continues his notorious sage of World War II - from the long remembered outbreak of crabs in monkey to the unfortunate ack-acking of and American killyhawk. Dio mio, is war is a game of cards, someone was cheating.

Book 4 of 7

Milligan Memoirs
Print length

287 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Viking
Publication date

January 1, 2012
Dimensions

7.8 x 5.08 x 0.69 inches
ISBN-10

0241958121
ISBN-13

978-0241958124
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking (January 1, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 287 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241958121
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241958124
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.8 x 5.08 x 0.69 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #784,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18,466 in Humor (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,211 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

1,211 global ratings

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Eagletree

Great WWII personal account, and hilarious

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2015

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I've griped about each of the other volumes being too expensive for how long they are. Volume 4 is longer. All in this series are outstanding books, but this one launches into some real depth. While all exhibit the fantastic ability to have humor hiding deep emotions and philosophical issues, this one carries it to a new level. In a single sentence, he has the ability to make you laugh and hurt for mankind. He lets us a small inkling of what so many have gone through with war by giving us first hand impressions of what he observed. I consider his series to be not only extremely enjoyable, but also quite profound.

Edit after fact: It is very aggravating that Volume 5 is not available on Kindle. Please expedite that Amazon!

One person found this helpful

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Vanessa Lewis

Funny and poignant

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013

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Spike Milligan is one of the great comedians of our time. All his memoirs in this series are very readable and this is no exception, although I found the first two exceptionally good. In this fourth book he describes all his army mates and their eccentricities with photographs to accompany the tales. The descriptions of wartime Italy are fantastic. As in his other books it is a mixture of wonderful humour and an insight into the tragic impact of war. You understand the camaraderie and the life long bond of these men who fought for their country and freedom. Spike Milligan brings WW2 to life with a combination of hilarity and pathos.

One person found this helpful

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Stebbo

The memoir is a great antidote to the tedious "war porn" that centres on ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2014

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There are few books this profound and chilling that evoke so much laughter. The memoir is a great antidote to the tedious "war porn" that centres on this dreadful conflict. Here is the reality of war, messy, funny and mostly a waste of time and life. (Why on earth did the Allies bother to invade and despoil Italy? I doubt if it shortened the war by a day). Most of the book is sharply observed and hugely entertaining then comes the crunch - the crunch of mortar fire. The climax is as shocking as it is pathetic. When I see that Amazon's top selling "history" book is ( another) story of incredible bravery and survival in World War Two I cringe. Read Milligan's book for the antidote to the flag waving.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Magnificent

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014

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The Milligan Diaries are not just immensely humorous...they form a superb piece of War and Social history.

Told from the perspective of the front-line soldier Milligan brought to life War in a wholly human and enthralling way.

One person found this helpful

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Jorilyn Miland

Brilliant!

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2016

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Another Milligan masterpiece which starts to show his progression from ly humorous, as in the previous books, and heading to his darker times. Brilliant!

One person found this helpful

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Adirondacker

Odd

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2019

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This book is definitely aimed directly at Brits! It is a not-so-funny shot at a less than humorous subject, especially if you were born after 1930.

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017

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Very funny book. Another Spike classic.

Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2015

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LOVED IT, COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING

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JHW

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2015

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Excellent Vendor, would happily purchase from again! Superb story, well done!

Steve C

War is Madness! (Here's the proof).

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2009

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"Milligan, you should be dismissed from the Army on the grounds of madness". "That's how I got in, sir".

This book begins with Spike and his brave comrades-in-arms crossing from victory in Tunis to the next Allied theatre of war in Italy, wondering what sort of landing awaits them on the beaches at Salerno. Ah, but it's not Jerry that awaits Milligan; it's a sandfly that has his number on it!

After disembarking, the gunners have to keep moving their heavy artillery ever forward to keep up with the 'PBI' (poor bloody infantry) and conditions deteriorate for them to the point that they resemble a collection of soggy, mud-caked scarecrows. But are they downhearted... well, yes, actually. Just as it can't get any worse for Spike the sandfly fever hits him and he's sent back to hospital, surrounded by the sick and dying.

Although he makes a recovery, and his unit eventually remembers to send someone to pick him up (only after he threatens to desert, mind), his health is obviously not 100% as he keeps getting spurts of unaccountable illness. Obvious, that is, to all except Major 'jumbo' Jenkins, the battery's miltary pedant and slave driver. The good Major sees to it that Spike gets his share of hairy moments until, having a mortar lobbed far too close to him for his continued welfare, Spike finally succumbs to the combination of bad health and stress and goes 'bomb-happy'. The Major thinks he just needs further exposure to danger to get him over it but, surprisingly, this does not work. Eventually, unable to function, Spike has to be sent back to hospital for a second time.

It's while convalescing yet again, and with Major Jenkins refusing to forgive and forget and take him back into the Battery, that Spike begins his very first tentative steps toward the spotlight which is drawing him ever closer to his showbiz future. Finding some worthwhile and fulfilling work, generally lackying for others with the odd spot of entertaining thrown in, he's eventually talent-spotted (in more ways than one, as it turns out) by an entertainments Major. He goes up in the world of service entertainment and, just as victory is won in Italy, the 'nice' Major presents him with a parting surprise - two stripes!

All the way Spike meets with the usual variety of both comical and pathetic characters and situations, witnesses the eruption of Vesuvius, explores Pompeii's erotic past, fends off Iti prostitutes ("mea no jig-a-jig; mea Roman Catolica") and holidays on the isle of Capri (doing his best to avoid resident Gracy Fields who is singing at every soldier in sight).

8 people found this helpful

R. S. Boyce

Mussolini: His Part in My Downfall

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2023

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Funny and enjoyable read

Sabba Polly

A descent into the pit of despair

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2013

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This, Part 4, of Spike's memoir deals with the ghastly Italian campaign of 1943/4. Through the media of the time, we learned that "Sunny Italy" was a grave misnomer. For Sunny one should read Soggy. (I remember seeing the newsreels.) Spike and his Battery fought three enemies, the rain, the mud, and of course Jerry. There is no doubt in my mind that the winter of 1943/4 pushed Spike ever closer to the verge of what we once called a nervous breakdown. We gather that his defence was his eccentric sense of humour and that of his immediate circle. Yes, they were funny. At times desperately funny. And we all know what desperate means.
After months of dreadful conditions and battle casualties and a cold hearted, autocratic Battery Commander, Spike is caught in a Mortar attack, slightly wounded, physically, but totally wrecked mentally. The final chapters of the book record his treatment, such as it was and his subsequent recovery, as the war in Europe ended.
The book is written with, at times, great sensitivity. Regarding the "funny" bits, yes some of them are very funny in a pre Goon Show style. However, it is a book that should be read by those of us who abhor War and recognise that war is not an enterprise to be entered upon lightly.
Read the book. In places, you will laugh, but in places you will be close to tears.

7 people found this helpful

Clive Mountney

Another brilliant book from the Milligan war series, excellent read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

Another brilliant book from the Milligan war series, excellent read! Hard to put down once you have started reading it!

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