The German Century Book

Combining over 250 photographs from extensive original research with text by an academic historian, The German Century is a beefy chronicle of the relationship between the country's people and its politics in the 20th century. It tells of rapidly fluctuating change and almost ceaseless turmoil, even down to the customs of everyday life. Though the spectre of Nazism has loomed large in recent German history, this terrible episode is not the whole story, as this book shows. The writing and photographs depict political events, artistic developments and social detail. Stürmer's text is consistently analytical and cutting, and while it has a tendency to be rather verbose, is absorbing none the less. The book presents the Third Reich with restrained use of concentration camp horror and vividly conveys the appeal of its propaganda as well as revealing its atrocities. The portrayal is almost as seductive as it is chilling, thereby helping to explain Hitler's power. This highly evocative book encompasses great beauty and hope, hideousness and sadness. Presenting an unsettled past and looking forward to a far-from-decided future, it helps to explain the nation's current stance in Europe. Much of what The German Century imparts may be new to British readers and is likely to prove an utter revelation. --Karen TileyRead More