In the Garden of Beasts
2 journalers for this copy...
When I read history, I wonder, “What was it like to be there?” In the Garden of Beasts answers that question for Berlin during the pivotal pre-war years 1933-37 when Hitler and his cabal were sinking their talons into Germany. And it tells the story through some very interesting eyes, those of the very unlikely American ambassador to Germany, William Dodd and his daughter, Martha.
Dodd was a history professor who was hoping for a quiet ambassadorship that would allow him to finish his life’s work, a history of the American south. What he got was the post in Berlin to the German government because no one else would take it. He took his family, a wife and two adult children. They met, rubbed shoulders with, entertained and were entertained by an amazing range of residents of Berlin—German leaders, other countries’ embassy staffs, journalists, ex-pats and others. Dodd tries to warn the State Department and push the Germans to stand up to the Nazis.
We also see the internal politics of the State Department and the reluctance of the US to get involved in European affairs.
Larson tells the story in a very engaging manner. He leaves his vetting of sources to an afterward, which I like. He does have extensive and interesting footnotes.
Dodd was a history professor who was hoping for a quiet ambassadorship that would allow him to finish his life’s work, a history of the American south. What he got was the post in Berlin to the German government because no one else would take it. He took his family, a wife and two adult children. They met, rubbed shoulders with, entertained and were entertained by an amazing range of residents of Berlin—German leaders, other countries’ embassy staffs, journalists, ex-pats and others. Dodd tries to warn the State Department and push the Germans to stand up to the Nazis.
We also see the internal politics of the State Department and the reluctance of the US to get involved in European affairs.
Larson tells the story in a very engaging manner. He leaves his vetting of sources to an afterward, which I like. He does have extensive and interesting footnotes.
Journal Entry 2 by itpdx at Little Free Library (SW 53rd) in Portland, Oregon USA on Friday, January 3, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (1/3/2014 UTC) at Little Free Library (SW 53rd) in Portland, Oregon USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Left in the Little Free Library Box
I went and plucked this back out of the Little Free Library when I decided to offer it on the Best of 2013 Swap on Book Obsessed.
Journal Entry 4 by itpdx at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 31, 2014
Released 10 yrs ago (1/31/2014 UTC) at BookObsessed.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This is being sent to elsi. She won it in the Best of 2013 Swap on Book Obsessed .
This book arrived last week. I was so surprised that it got here so quickly. I look forward to reading it.