Escape in Italy , first published in 1945, is the account of U.S. Army Ranger Lt. William Newnan, who found himself a prisoner-of-war after a failed Allied offensive at Cisterna, Italy, in the Anzio campaign. However, Newnan did not stay a prisoner for long. After a clever and daring escape, he walked from near Arezzo to Rome, aided by friendly Italians along the way. In Rome, he remained in hiding until American forces reclaimed the city. Upon Newnan's return to the U.S., he related his story to a group of family friends one evening, his words were taken down in shorthand and transcribed onto paper, and finally, his account was published by his alma mater, The University of Michigan. Following his daring escape in Italy and return to the U.S., Newnan would go on to serve in another elite fighting unit in China.