Keith Lowe’s Naples 1944 offers a clear and deeply researched look at the city of Naples during World War II, focusing on its role as the first European city to be liberated from Nazi control. The book highlights not just the military victory, but the human cost of survival and the moral challenges faced by both soldiers and civilians. Lowe also explores the lasting lessons the world learned from this liberation.

I found the book to be highly informative, and it gave me new insight into parts of World War II history I hadn’t encountered before—especially the role of the resistance and the complex aftermath of freeing a city from occupation. While the level of detail added depth, it also made the book read slowly at times, and I felt the same impact could have been achieved with fewer pages. Still, it was a fascinating and worthwhile read that made me think more critically about the realities of war beyond the battlefield.

Naples 1944 by Keith Lowe is a detailed look at Naples, centered on the year 1944 but not limited to it.

I found the background, both more distant and closer to 1944, beneficial in understanding how things evolved there. While there could have been a little more focus on individual stories there were enough included to both present the human impact while also help to present the bigger picture. While not every other attempt Allied forces made to help cities and populations recover were this unsuccessful many did follow a similar trajectory.

I know some will balk at the idea that Allied forces, the US in particular, should shoulder much of the blame for how things turned out, I think it is a valid argument. Dismissing errors because we also helped defeat the Axis powers is absurd. If I save someone from a bear but push them off a cliff, accidentally, in doing so, I am still to blame for pushing them off the cliff. I didn't read Lowe as making those responsible into monsters, though some were certainly indifferent to the pain the population was experiencing. Encouraging behavior from troops that one would have reprimanded at home is hypocritical to put it mildly.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy detailed history that keeps a narrow focus without disregarding the larger picture within which it is but a part.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

4 out of 5 stars

The first half of the 1940s provided many challenges for the people of Naples, Italy: bombings, fascist leaders, a water crisis, disease, inflation, a volcanic eruption, and occupation by outside forces. All these issues cumulated and brought problems that plagued Naples for the second half of the twentieth century.

Keith Lowe takes the reader through a rough two years for the Italian city of Naples in Naples 1944: The Devil’s Paradise. By focusing on just two years, Lowe is able to go into great detail, which paints a clear picture of the situation in Naples and explains how the city fell into unfortunate circumstances. However, at 464 pages, this book is long and, at times, those details feel like they drag on. A lot happened between 1943 and 1944 and the abundant details proved necessary, even if they made the book a little dry. One positive is that the book did not contain much repetition. Each chapter had a specific topic and Lowe managed to stick to that topic, and he did an excellent job of connecting everything together.

One of the most interesting parts of this book is the non-linear structure. It begins with the Allied Powers occupation of Naples, then explores the time before the occupation, and ends back with the occupation and what came after. This structure did not take away from the book and even with the jumps through time, the narrative flowed well. Lowe did a good job of showing all the groups who contributed to the situation in Naples. The Allies, specifically the Americans and the British, the Germans, the fascist leaders, and the Napoleons themselves. He clearly explained how no one party was wholly responsible for the problems that arose. Each group, through action and inaction, caused the issues that persisted for decades after the end of the war.

Keith Lowe provides a different perspective of World War II through his examination of Naples, Italy. This is a great book to go to if you are interested in a deep-dive into Naples. He covers the political, social, and environmental issues that impacted the city and how it led to where Naples is today. The book is well-written and seamlessly brings a lot of topics together in a concise argument. It is a good read if you are interested in World War II or the city of Naples.

3.5⭐️

I enjoy reading history because I love to learn things. In Keith Lowe's Naples 1944: The Paradise at War, Lowe takes us on a journey of Naples during WWII when the Allies first land there. His book covers the years 1943-1946.

I have a problem when I read history books. I always end up going down the rabbit hole. This time was no different. I was never taught in school about the Allies landing there, or I don't remember it. I remember learning about Normandy and the rest of France, the Netherlands, and of course, when they made it to Germany. I like it when a writer of history writes in a way that you feel what the people went through, and Lowe does this well. If you like history or WWII history, specifically, I think you would enjoy this book. The main reason is because Lowe tells about a little known town affected by the war and the Allies. Not that Naples is little. It's just not talked about much what the town and people went through during this time.

Published: March 11, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martins Press, and Keith Lowe for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #KeithLowe #Naples1944 #ARC #History #Nonfiction #Read2025

Keith Lowe has chronicled, a subject we don’t always talk about, the terrible and often unexpected consequences of war. Both are magnified in Naples, Italy. Even before the fall of Mussolini, Naples was a city of contrast and the allied occupation of it intensified it. While the allied forced sis repair a lot of the infrastructure that was destroyed by the Germans, they also did a lot of damage to the women and men of Naples, and the economy.

I appreciated Lowe for acknowlg=dgin the fact few if any primary sources exist when it comes to some of the subject he wrote about in the book, because of shame. He also acknowledges as an outsider, he is not the one to do those interviews. We often gloss over the damage both sides do during war. I enjoyed this read. If you are a WWII history nerd, please read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Naples 1944 is a look at the factors that accumulated during WWII that shaped the post war identity of this southern city of Italy. From internal forces such as the rise of fascism, the takeover of the Nazi regime, the liberation by the Allies, and natural disasters; Naples was a city at the heart of the Southern European experience during WWII that doesn’t get a lot of light shed on it within this genre of books.

Keith Lowe does a wonderful job of breaking out the different factors stated above and how they all worked together by different chapter and headers within each chapter. The reader can tell he is very passionate about the people of Naples and getting their story out regarding one of the most devastating times in history. The book credits many sources for further reading and reader review throughout its pages without feeling bogged down. Which I find can be an issue with many history books.

His narrative is gripping and a different aspect from the “allies as saviors” that a lot of the Western society is fed through media. The book doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to citing all the failures of the liberating armies and the consequences of those failures, be they short term or long term.

The only winge I had with this book is the layout of the different parts. I felt that with how long and comprehensive Part 1 was with discussing all the different difficulties that came after liberation, the next parts were just a reiteration with a bit more substance. Therefore, it felt less like a thesis and more like a comprehensive overview.

Overall, a solid 4.5. I would recommend this to anyone interested in War time History regarding WWII and wants a different perspective than just Northern Europe’s experience during WWII and of the cost of victory and liberation.

Millions of lives were changed, destroyed and taken during World War II. Naples was the hardest hit in Italy and suffered dire consequences. But the aftermath...which is a major focus here...is incomprehensible. First came Mussolini and fascism, then the Germans who occupied their once-exotic and beautiful city who humiliated, tortured, tormented and murdered citizens indiscriminately. When they left, they deliberately and revengefully practiced scorched earth, only worse, when they destroyed aqueducts, sewer systems, emergency services, places for bodies, postal service, telephone service and transportation hubs. No schools or courthouse were open. Black market and mafia ruled.

It is inconceivable to survive these atrocities but it got worse. Typhus killed and Vesuvius erupted in 1944. The Allied soldiers were first seen as saviors and were revered. But the soldiers eventually lost track of their governing purpose and often became drunk, assaulted women and children, played tricks to humiliate and overlooked lawlessness. They abused currency. Layer upon layer of fear and despair caused boys to sell their sisters and mothers. People had nothing and walked shoeless through dirt. There was no food.

The author describes the horrors in detail but in an empathetic way. This felt personal. I love Naples in many ways and am astounded at the underground city, including caves and shelters used by 100,000 during WWII. I learned more about the "Four Days of Naples" revolt, politics, how Allied soldiers and war were viewed but most of all, the people who suffered impossibly. This book brought it together for me and detailed the emotional toll which is difficult to read but crucial.

This is an epic book, an absolute must for those who are keen to learn more about WWII in Naples, (in)humanity, aftermath and lessons (not) learned. Astonishing information, thoroughly researched.

(Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.)

The thing that drew me to Keith Lowe's NAPLES 1944: THE DEVIL'S PARADISE AT WAR was that my grandfather was part of the American military force that fought in Italy during World War II. He was in the 5th Army under General Mark Clark and so he was at the invasion on the beaches of Anzio, he was at Cassino, he was in the Po Valley... he ended up going through Civitavecchia and Rome and being in Trieste when the war ended. He didn't talk a lot about the war - and so I wanted to know more.

This history of Naples seemed like a place I might find more of my grandfather's story.

And now I can imagine some of what he might have seen and experienced, especially since by sheer coincidence, I found some of the photos he took during the war.

More than the personal connection, NAPLES 1944 is an important example that illustrates why we must learn history so that we do not repeat it. The rise of Mussolini and fascism in Italy carries a lot of parallels to the world we live in today. This book makes plain that no one wins under the government, other than the very rich and the very powerful - for a little while.

And we stand on the precipice of that sort of world again.

So it took me an awfully long time to get through this book, not because it was not interesting and well-written - it is, but because if even when you love history and want to learn as much as possible, sometimes you have to microdose it if it hits too close to home.

All in all, NAPLES 1944: THE DEVIL'S PARADISE AT WAR is a fascinating look at the human condition in a very specific set of circumstances.

I have never read an isotropy book that focused on WW2 from the point of view of Italy. I am Italian so I wanted to try this book out. This book had vivid accounts of wartime and was written like a fiction book. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

Great in-depth book about such terrible events. Thoroughly researched and well written, I learned so much.

This was a fascinating read and well researched and well written. I learned do much and enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This book dives deep into the history of Naples during World War 2. Incredibly researched, the author lays out how Naples turned from being under the Fascist rule of Mussolini, to the German take over, then to the Allied Forces “liberating” the area. Liberating is what the Allies called it but it was more of an occupation. When the Germans fled, they destroyed a lot in their wake. The Allies (US, England, France) came in and restored order but the people of Naples were subjected to prostitution and pimping (from children to elders!), black market prices on goods, corruption, and decisions that were made on their behalf, not for their benefit but for the benefit of politics that favored the Allies. Most of the book tells of the US occupation of the city, but the middle section of the book tells of the history of Naples leading up to WW2. A really well done book with horrific detail about parts of the war you didn’t realize. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy. The book comes out in March.

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Very interesting to do a deep dive in to one city’s experience during and after WW II. Well researched and detailed, but perhaps too much so for me as I found my mind wandering at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for the ARC

This book offers a vivid and unflinching portrayal of a city teetering on the edge of chaos after World War II. As someone who appreciates historical narratives, I found the descriptions of Naples' contrasts—opulent palaces amidst dire poverty, and beloved cuisine against widespread hunger—particularly compelling. Lowe’s detailed recounting of the Allied soldiers' impact on the city, from their relative wealth to their role in fueling the black market, paints a stark picture of post-war realities.

However, while the book is undeniably informative and the historical context is rich, I felt that the narrative occasionally dragged, making it a bit challenging to stay fully engaged throughout. The chaotic and corrupt atmosphere of Naples is well-documented, but the repetitive emphasis on violence and disorder sometimes overshadowed the human stories at the heart of the city’s transformation.

“ I said, war, huh, good God, y'all, What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again " The Temptations (written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong)

I wanted to read this book, Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War, because I found the concept of concentrating on the toll WWII took on one specific city intriguing, and even more so because that city is in Italy. Of the participants in WWII, Italy is the one I know the least about beyond just knowing that Benito Mussolini was greedy, incompetent, and murderous.

Mussolini was Prime Minister during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the late 1930s, where they unleashed fire and brimstone (and mustard gas) upon the Ethiopian people for the audacity of not wanting to be colonized by Italy. This campaign ate through a huge investment of Italian resources that left the country in a precarious economic position as Hitler was saber-rattling in Germany.

Initially declaring that Italy would not participate in the war, Mussolini later threw his lot in with Hitler when it appeared that Germany was headed for a decisive victory. Mussolini could not resist the riches he thought he would gain by joining the winning team. As the father of fascism in Italy, he didn’t bother to ask the Italian people what they thought about that.

Mussolini made one bad decision after another in rapid succession. One of those was the attack upon Greece through Albania. The Italian troops were defeated, and Germany was left to save their Axis mate from total disaster. Hitler knew that Italy was financially and domestically on the edge of collapse, and sure enough, Mussolini was ousted. Germany was already prepared to occupy Italy as they had foreseen this probability.

So, now Italy is persona non grata with Hitler, and the German troops go completely scorched earth in southern Italy as they retreated north. At the same time, the Allies were chasing them and pounding away. Things got so dire for Naples, Italy, during WWII that even Vesuvius erupted in 1944 and rained down on them.

This book does focus on Naples, but also includes just enough of the broader history and timeline of the war itself to flesh out those pages. That is not to say the pages needed much fleshing (?) because what the people of Naples went through really is a book on its own, I promise. Nazi occupation, the Neapolitan uprising against said Nazis, Nazi scorched earth, no food, no water, no electricity, Allied occupation, volcanic eruption.

This is my first book by Keith Lowe, but it won’t be the last. I say that because sometimes books tend to stick too closely to the facts without giving me enough of the human element. I am the type of person who can’t stay focused if someone is just regurgitating facts at me. My mind will wander to whether or not I started the dryer or if it’s too late for a glass of wine.

This book had just the right balance of facts and human elements, and I am a sucker for a lot of citations. I got a little lost a couple of times as to where we were on the timeline of events in the broader scope of WWII, but that is a small gripe.

My many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read this early copy. This book will be released in March of 2025.

Side Note: I was today years old when I found out that Neapolitan ice cream originated in Naples. I had never put any thought into it before. lol