In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
3 journalers for this copy...
In the Garden of Beasts Love Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Author: Erik Larson
Erik Larson, bestselling author of Devil in the White City, delivers a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power. — The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Nazi Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history. — A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. At first Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the suprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance -- and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.
Suffused with the tense atmosphere of the period, and with unforgettable portraits of the bizarre Göring and the expectedly charming -- yet wholly sinister -- Goebbels, In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively readable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror.
Author: Erik Larson
Erik Larson, bestselling author of Devil in the White City, delivers a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power. — The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Nazi Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history. — A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. At first Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the suprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance -- and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.
Suffused with the tense atmosphere of the period, and with unforgettable portraits of the bizarre Göring and the expectedly charming -- yet wholly sinister -- Goebbels, In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively readable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror.
This was a very interesting study of a slice of life in Nazi Germany shortly after Hitler became chancellor in 1933. Larson tells the story of William Dodd and his family during the time Dodd was Ambassador to Germany from August 1933 to December 1937.
Dodd was an unlikely choice for ambassador and was down the line in preference by President Roosevelt. He was a historian at the University of Chicago who thought he was destined for greater things. He and his family including his wife and two grown children moved to Berlin to assume the job of ambassador. Dodd pressed for American interests while letting it be known that he did not think much of the blustering Nazis even though he seemed to have been somewhat blind to the intensity of anti-Semitism and was casually anti-Semitic himself. He witnessed the forces of Hitler’s newly installed regime that included casual beatings of Americans for trivial offences such as not giving the Nazi salute when an SS parade passed by. As time progressed, Dodd became more and more anti-Nazi and warned his superiors of the atrocities to come but was mostly ignored by them.
The book also told the story of Dodd's daughter, Martha, who became involved with several Nazi officers and fell in love with a Russian diplomat who was part of the KGB. The Russians actually tried to get Martha to be a spy for them but this ultimately came to naught.
I have read many accounts of Nazi Germany but this part of their early history was pretty much new to me. The story of the Dodds and how they interacted with Hitler and his gang of thugs made for interesting reading. I have read a few other works by Larson and have some others on my shelf waiting to be read that I hope to get to sometime soon.
Dodd was an unlikely choice for ambassador and was down the line in preference by President Roosevelt. He was a historian at the University of Chicago who thought he was destined for greater things. He and his family including his wife and two grown children moved to Berlin to assume the job of ambassador. Dodd pressed for American interests while letting it be known that he did not think much of the blustering Nazis even though he seemed to have been somewhat blind to the intensity of anti-Semitism and was casually anti-Semitic himself. He witnessed the forces of Hitler’s newly installed regime that included casual beatings of Americans for trivial offences such as not giving the Nazi salute when an SS parade passed by. As time progressed, Dodd became more and more anti-Nazi and warned his superiors of the atrocities to come but was mostly ignored by them.
The book also told the story of Dodd's daughter, Martha, who became involved with several Nazi officers and fell in love with a Russian diplomat who was part of the KGB. The Russians actually tried to get Martha to be a spy for them but this ultimately came to naught.
I have read many accounts of Nazi Germany but this part of their early history was pretty much new to me. The story of the Dodds and how they interacted with Hitler and his gang of thugs made for interesting reading. I have read a few other works by Larson and have some others on my shelf waiting to be read that I hope to get to sometime soon.
Journal Entry 3 by 
perryfran
at Wishlist Tag Game , A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
perryfran at Wishlist Tag Game , A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Thank you for sharing this with me! I have read a couple of books by this author and really enjoyed his writing style. After reading your JE I cannot wait to read this book. 😀
Reserved for bkind2books
Wow. An absolute must read.
The story begins with a little background on William Dodd and his family. How this father and professor became the US Ambassador in Germany.
Dodd, his wife, his adult daughter and son all arrived in Germany. The daughter wants to join the ‘adventure’ to Germany, divorces her husband. She has multiple liaisons including one with a —- you read and find out. To me, the daughter is not very likable.
The Ambassador starts being concerned with the changes happening in Germany. The concern relayed to the US and they are indifferent.
I don’t want to share too much here. We know our history. This is a well written account of this time. A book we should all read. A reminder for us all of what happens when we believe propaganda over truth, when everyone’s rights are not respected. A must read.
Wow. An absolute must read.
The story begins with a little background on William Dodd and his family. How this father and professor became the US Ambassador in Germany.
Dodd, his wife, his adult daughter and son all arrived in Germany. The daughter wants to join the ‘adventure’ to Germany, divorces her husband. She has multiple liaisons including one with a —- you read and find out. To me, the daughter is not very likable.
The Ambassador starts being concerned with the changes happening in Germany. The concern relayed to the US and they are indifferent.
I don’t want to share too much here. We know our history. This is a well written account of this time. A book we should all read. A reminder for us all of what happens when we believe propaganda over truth, when everyone’s rights are not respected. A must read.
Released 1 yr ago (3/3/2023 UTC) at BC friend, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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Now traveling to Bkind2books. Enjoy!
Arrived yesterday! Thanks, dvg, for sharing this! I think my hubs will also enjoy it.
I have also read other works by this author and he has an ability to make history come alive. Thanks again....another book goes on Mt TBR.
I have also read other works by this author and he has an ability to make history come alive. Thanks again....another book goes on Mt TBR.
