Isonzo

This is the first account in English of a much-overlooked, but important, First World War battlefront located in the mountains astride the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Not well known in the West, the battles of Isonzo were nevertheless ferocious, and compiled a record of bloodletting that totaled over 1.75 million for both sides. In sharp contrast to claims that neither the Italian nor the Austrian armies were viable fighting forces, Schindler aims to bring the terrible sacrifices endured by both armies back to their rightful place in the history of 20th century Europe. The Habsburg Empire, he contends, lost the war for military and economic reasons rather than for political or ethnic ones. Schindler's account includes references to remarkable personalities such as Mussolini; Tito; Hemingway; Rommel, and the great maestro Toscanini. This Alpine war had profound historical consequences that included the creation of the Yugoslav state, the problem of a rump Austrian state looking to Germany for leadership, and the traumatic effects on a generation of young Italian men who swelled the ranks of the fascists. After nearly a century, Isonzo can assume its proper place in the ranks of the tragic Great War clashes, alongside Verdun, the Somme, and Passchendaele.

This illustrated WWI history sheds light on a major campaign fought along the significant yet often neglected Italian Front. From 1915 to 1917 the armies of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were locked in a series of battles along the River Isonzo, a sixty-mile front from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea. The campaigns were fought in unforgiving terrain, with casualty counts that exceeded those of the Great War’s more famous battles. The twelfth and final battle, Caporetto, was a major victory for the Central Powers as they broke through the Italian Front. Historian John Macdonald chronicles the Isonzo battles with vivid descriptions of the battlefields and of the atrocious conditions in which the soldiers fought. The text is supported by a selection of original photographs that record the terrible reality of the conflict. The intervention of British, French and German troops is covered, as are the parts played by famous individuals, including Erwin Rommel, Benito Mussolini, Pietro Badoglio and Luigi Cadorna, the notorious Italian commander in chief. Caporetto and the Isonzo Campaign examines an aspect of the First World War that was pivotal in the history of Italy, Austria and the Balkans.

-- Of the more than 15,000 wines tasted, only 600 make it to the final round; 241 receive the prized recognition, tre bicchieri -- In addition to tre bicchieri, a new classification is conferred on those producers who have consistency of quality at the highest level Since its first edition in 1988, Italian Wines has played a major role in Italy's wine market; both professionals and wine enthusiasts have learned to trust its evaluations. The 2001 edition was a best-selling wine title; it was a complete sell out. Italian Wines 2002 surveys the panorama of quality wine production in Italy. Expanded to 792 pages, this volume reviews and evaluates over 11,000 wines and 1,600 wineries. After months of blind tastings, prize-winning wines were selected and indicated with a symbol that has become synonymous with quality: three glasses, tre bicchieri.

Since its first edition in 1988, the Gambero Rosso Italian Wine Guide has played a major role in Italy's fine wine market: both professionals and wine enthusiasts have learned to trust its evaluations. The 1998 English edition was truly a best-selling wine title for everyone and was a complete sell out. Italian Wines 1999 surveys the panorama of quality wine production in Italy. Expanded to 650 pages, this volume reviews and evaluates over 8,500 wines and 1,400 wineries. During 1998, after months of blind tastings, prize-winning wines were selected and indicated with a symbol that has become synonymous with quality: three glasses, tre bicchieri.