About the Book:

“Erik Larson has been widely acclaimed as a master of narrative non-fiction, and in his new book, the bestselling author of Devil in the White City turns his hand to 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 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 surprisingly 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 unexpectedly 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, addictive 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.”

Book Review:  ★★★★★★

Once again Larson has set himself apart as an excellent writer, with a real gift for presenting history in a very personal, and meaningful voice.  This work is compelling, dramatic, and insightful for the picture that it brings to light of what Berlin, and Germany was like in a time that people couldn’t even begin to understand how bad a nightmare could truly get.  The situation that existed in the years immediately following Hitler’s rise to power were years that the outside world could never understand.  It was a situation that the world didn’t want to understand.  And Larson’s newest book has given us a front row seat in the middle of these painfully difficult years of turmoil, danger, and desperation.

This book presents the perception of the newly appointed American Ambassador Dodd, when he and his family descended into hell.  This family played a staring roll in this turning point in history — thrust onto a stage that they never wanted to find themselves in — and in the end it would cost them dearly.  As the level of violence escalated, and the German country stood on a razor’s edge, the factions vying for ultimate power began to define themselves, and their driving compulsions in horrifying ways.  This book gives us a clear picture that the violence of the Nazi regime was not confined to the Jewish people as a whole.  While they were certainly the target of this traumatizing violence, the same volatile actions were inflicted on the citizens of the entire country.  Murders without trials, violations of civil rights, and eventually an overwhelming feeling of complete fear and oppression laid the groundwork for this horrifying group’s ability to successfully stage a silent coup d’etat.

For Dodd and his family this environment of violence dramatically altered his perception and understanding of humanity, and mankind.  From a background of a history professor, and lover of the American government, and nation, to the American representative in a country forging a new future, along a dangerous course, led to challenges he could never foresee.  The acts of violence, intrigue, and political instability in this challenging post, in a country charting an unstoppable course into a world war was a post that would cost Dodd more than he was willing to give.  Combined with that was the painful realization that he had no support from home, and could not trust those that worked on his diplomatic staff, and Dodd suddenly found himself isolated from the world he had once known and loved.  His writings, thoughts, and letters, carefully included in Larson’s presentation give the reader an insight into the struggles that Dodd encountered in his challenging post, and demanding career.

Dodd was a man that constantly found himself in the roll of the boy who cried wolf, as he tried — almost despondently at times — to convince an unbelieving world that Hitler’s threat was beyond real.  Dodd tried to warn the world that Hitler was a man that would bring the world to the brink of madness, and cost more lives than most wars put together.  As Dodd struggled to get the politicians, and wealthy elite to listen to his warnings, they failed to listen as they competed for power, place, and prestige, at Dodd’s expense.

This book gives a great look into the struggles of these troublesome years — particularly an inside look at events that are frequently overlooked or denied.  The political maneuvering between the countries of the time, the rise and division between the Communists and the Nazis, the unwillingness of the Americans to see the Jewish plight for the real danger that it presented — this book is a great look into the danger of not learning the lessons of history.  This book is breathtaking, heartbreaking, inspiring, and provides a great testimony to how important the lessons of history can be.  A must read — and a real credit to the World War II era literature.

Tags: Biography, Government, History, Holocaust, Morality, Murder, Nazi, Non-Fiction, World War II

Category: Biography/Autobiography, History, Non-Fiction, Politics, Suspense/Thriller, World War II