In May 1944, Canadian troops began driving up the long, flat, rugged Liri Valley from Monte Cassino to Rome. They faced the infamous Hitler Line a bastion of concrete bunkers fronted by barbed wire, minefields, and Tobruk weapon pits. The ensuing battle resulted in Canada's bloodiest day of the Italian campaign and cleared the way for the Allies to take the capital city. Zuehlke, who has written previously about the battle of Ortona, provides a narrative of the Canadians' experience during 24 days of combat in one of the war's great offenses. Inset are 16 slick pages of b&w wartime photos. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)