In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

Larson specializes in the "nonfiction novel" genre pioneered by Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood." He does a tremendous amount of research that allows him to write a true story in a way that reads like a novel. This is by far his best book, in part because of the gravity of the subject matter and in part because everyone can identify with an American family that moves wholesale over to Germany at the very moment that Hitler consolidates his power in 1933-34. Dodd is a Jimmy Stewart type figure -- an everyman, thoughtful professor who is unexpectedly appointed ambassador to Germany because no one else wants the job and because he knows the country and the language (and, of course, is an old supporter and friend of Wilson and Roosevelt). He decides to bring his whole family along to experience the adventure -- including his two adult children. His daughter, Martha, is a charismatic and sexually adventurous free spirit who ends up having affairs with some Nazis and even a Soviet diplomat. One Nazi actually introduces her to Hitler in attempt to set up the sexually hapless dictator -- to no avail. There are compelling lessons to this tale. First and foremost is Larson's ability to capture the heady spirit of the times. When we think about the Nazis we know the evil and tragic result of their regime -- but the people in 1933 didn't know. Instead of shaking our heads and saying how could they be so stupid as to follow Hitler, we have to put aside our knowledge of what happened next and think like those who lived the early years. The intoxication of power and the feeling that the Nazis were reinvigorating a dead society go a long way toward explaining the Nazis' success. But Larson also captures the growing unease and tensions created by the new regime -- and the ability of the regime to grow too strong before any meaningful resistance could be mounted. Even the Nazi lords who interact with the Dodds are haunted by the insecurity of their position. In a regime premised on survival-of-the-fittest, continued rivalries for power, and pressure to demonstrate more and more harshness and party orthodoxy, all the participants saw the path before them as either keeping intoxicating power by becoming more ruthless or accepting purge and death. Some, like Diehls (the early head of the Gestapo), refuse to take steps toward greater and greater ruthlessness, and pay with loss of position and threats to life. Dodd himself immediately appreciates the evil of the regime, though initially deludes himself into thinking that it can be moderated or persuaded by rationality. His daughter is at first taken with the regime, but witnessing public humiliation and oppression of Jews and the growing repression and tensions of the regime persuade her otherwise. Dodd is ultimately powerless to either change the regime or to persuade Americans to pay attention to it and to do something before it's too late. Dodd did suffer from some of the easy anti-semitism of the day, but to his credit refused to blame the Jews for their own predicament or to tolerate inhumane treatment. He became a hero to me in one fantastic meeting he had with Hitler in 1933. Hitler does his usual rant about the injustice of the Versailles Treaty imposed on Germany after World War I. Hitler's embrace of victimhood for Germany allowed him to stoke hate at home, demand appeasement, and ultimately to justify any kind of evil/aggressive action (when you are a victim, all is permitted). Dodd said the one thing to Hitler that no one else did and that everyone else (German and non-German) should have: the peace of the victors is always unjust, that's why we have to work to avoid future wars. He told Hitler, in essence, to grow up and to get beyond this victimhood. Hitler just sat and looked at Dodd and was briefly at a loss for words. Unfortunately, nothing was going to sink in or persuade him rationally. But it's a beautiful scene. Dodd is a tragic figure in the end. But he really could have done nothing differently. The USA was not ready to see the evil of the Nazis or the necessity of intervening in European affairs. This is an extraordinary book that recreates the lost world of 1933-34 Berlin. I read virtually all of the book in one sitting because it's impossible to put down.

Those familiar with the history of Nazism and Hitler’s ascension to the post of Fuhrer will not be surprised by the specific “climactic spasm of violence and murder” that occurs near the end of the text; the event is an indelible part of the history of Nazi Germany, which I won’t reveal here. For my part, I was expecting a different, perhaps less well known event would serve as the ghastly denouement for the story, but it is a credit to Larson’s writing style and novelistic detail that I found myself propelled through the book even after I came to realize late in the text that the climax involved a tale I’d already heard and read about a dozen times if not more. This book’s strength and its value isn’t so much in how it portrays a single atrocious event in a string of atrocities that were to become Nazi Germany but rather in the way it provides a glimpse of life in pre-war Nazi Germany. We see the Nazi hierarchy for what it was: a rabble of psychopathic connivers plotting against each other, scrambling and scraping to retain Hitler’s favor. The picture is age-old and yet new when cast through Larson’s lens. And yet, I did not find much to be admired in the American cast of characters, either. Ambassador Dodd, his wife, son and daughter arrived in Germany in 1933 so that Mr. Dodd could assume the position of U.S. ambassador to Germany and while I found Mr. Dodd to be a basically sympathetic sort, I’m a bit confused by Larsen’s apparent admiration for Dodd’s daughter Martha, whose liaisons and indiscretions play a major part in the narrative. I liked this book – I didn’t LOVE it. I found it very compelling and interesting enough that I looked forward to reading it each day and would spend a good deal of time at a setting reading the book. The story does, truly read like a novel and would be of interest to folks who aren’t necessarily knowledgeable regarding the history of Nazism or World War II and for those who may know a great deal about that era, I think you’d still enjoy it for the glimpse of what came to pass as “normal life” in Germany during the years immediately before the outbreak of World War II. If you’re like me, having finished this book you will likely find yourself asking, “Why didn’t we recognize the Hitler regime for what it was?” Heaven knows we had plenty of warnings, but alas, we continue ignore the outrages perpetrated by today’s raft of dictators and despots, too.

Excellent!

Testo arrivato velocemente e in ottimo stato come descritto !

This book was part of our Book Club reading this year. It was recommended by a member after it 'got her through' a hugely difficult week in her life as her son underwent surgery for a cancerous brain tumor. I dreaded reading it - not 'my kind' of story. It was an incredibly wonderful read! Every page pulled me onward! I often regretted that I had to put it down. The story is true, the events are real, the perspective is historical - giving the reader room to view the events through time, limiting 'horror', while not erasing the facts of the events. The story is beautifully crafted and balanced, moving from family issues of American Ambassador Dodd (Berlin), to group gatherings including the Berlin Politico, Dodd's very busy, young daughter who is infatuated with the Nazis, and Nazi 'power movers' - all in the same room in social events. Treachery abounds - even from the State Department at home and in Berlin! Be sure to read the author's sources and acknowledgements at the end - rich indeed! This book re-awakened my interest in history! It is a superb read!

I lived in Berlin for seven years and have travelled there many times on other occasions. It is a city I love, but until now I have avoided spending much time on its Nazi past. I've visited very few of its WW2 museums or famous sites and, being Jewish, I have always found it tiresome that any mention of Germany or Berlin, immediately conjures up the Holocaust. So, I was actually reluctant to read Eric Larson's book. But, thankfully, I picked it up anyway and was pleasantly surprised to find that this book is quite interesting. It has two very good things going for it. First, it is an honest look at how real people viewed the rise of Adolph Hitler. And it is an honest look at how anti-Semitism played a huge part in those views. However, Larson doesn't condemn the characters for not protesting enough, or for their anti-Semitic beliefs, or even for openly accepting and admiring Hitler's government. Nor does he praise them in the end, when they finally realize how bad the situation really is. Rather he tries to understand their thoughts, feelings, and actions from their own vantage point and give us a good feeling of what it would have been like if we were there. It's a refreshing, more objective view of history and one I thoroughly enjoy. The second wonderful part of this book is the feeling of walking the streets of Berlin. Larson has a good flair for narration and the reader is transported to those streets, and can feel, see, smell, and almost touch the sights and sounds of the end days of the Weimar Republic. I hope on my next trip to try and find some of those sights. The book had deepened my love and interest in the city and has opened my eyes to a part of its history I had thought to ignore. As for history books, this is less a conventional history, and more a personal insight. There is a general overview of the events that led to Hitler's seizure of power, but if you are looking for a deeper reading, than Larson's book is not for you. This book is unlike his others and I don't think his intention was to write just narrative history, but rather to try and experience a historical moment from the eyes of its witnesses. Fascinating. Definitely worth five stars. I read it in less than 48 hours.

such a relief to find someone who can write biographies at last! compellingly written and rigorously researched story of the US ambassador to berlin & his family as hitler's thugs rose to power in the 30s and the whole free world stood by and smiled. scary, enlightening and very good read indeed.