About this title: Ian Kershaw's "Hitler" allows us to come closer than ever before to a serious understanding of the man and of the catastrophic sequence of events which allowed a bizarre misfit to climb from a Viennese dosshouse to leadership of one of Europe's most sophisticated countries. With extraordinary skill and vividness, drawing on a huge range of sources, Kershaw recreates the world which first thwarted and then nurtured the young Hitler. As his seemingly pitiful fantasy of being Germany's saviour attracted more and more support, Kershaw brilliantly conveys why so many Germans adored Hitler, ...
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Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co
Date Published: 2000-04
ISBN-13:9780393320350ISBN:0393320359
Description: Good. A Great Deal! ! ! ! /Book is in good shape with no apparent underlining or highlighting/Media mail is very slow sometimes...for fastest delivery, select "Expedited shipping"! / Buy from me and you won't be let down! ! ! / APO/FPO Orders Appreciated! ! ! read more
Description: Fine. 0393320359 NEW/UNREAD! ! ! Text is Clean and Unmarked! --Be Sure to Compare Seller Feedback and Ratings before Purchasing--Has a small black ink mark on outside edge of pages. May have light shelf wear to cover from storage, if any. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co
Date Published: 2000-04
ISBN-13:9780393320350ISBN:0393320359
Description: Good. Soft cover. Normal cover and page wear. Unmarked text. Buy with confidence. 100% satisfaction guaranteed! ! Shipped each business day. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9780393320350ISBN:0393320359
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 845 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date Published: 2000-04
ISBN-13:9780393320350ISBN:0393320359
Description: Good. Cover is scuffed and worn around the edges. Edge of book has a little light smudging. Many page corners folded down. NOT an ex-library book; no publisher's remainder marks. No spine creasing. Military (APO/FPO) orders are welcomed-Thank you for your service. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Penguin, London
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780140133639ISBN:0140133631
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. 880p., [16]p. of plates: ill., facsims., geneal. table, ports.; 20 cm. Originally published: London: Allen Lane, 1998. Includes index. Bibliography: p.767-797. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc, New York, New York
Date Published: 2000
ISBN-13:9780393320350ISBN:0393320359
Description: Good. No Jacket. 8vo-Between 7 3/4" and 9 3/4" 847 page book is in good condition with edgewear, scuffing of cover, and bent page and cover corners. This biography of Adolf Hitler brings us closer than ever before to the heart of its subject's immense darkness. Hitler here emerges from obscurity to uncontested rule over a disillusioned people desperate to escape from political and economic chaos. Hitler's path to power leads from the anti-Semitism of prewar Vienna through the First World War, ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780140133639ISBN:0140133631
Description: Very Good. A gently read trade paperback. Light shelfwear to wrapper. No remainder marks. Vol. 1 only. Prompt Service-Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Norton 1999, First American-
ISBN-13:9780393046717ISBN:0393046710
Description: 18.90. EX-LIBRARY-VERY GOOD CONDITION-Looks unread-Hard Cover- Norton 199 First American Edition-Scan sent upon request-Usual Library Marks-No underlining or notations in book- 0393046710-Sound Tight Copy-Binding and Hinges are very sound-Mylar dust jacket protector-Nice solid copy-843 pages-Great photos-Very heavy volume- read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780393046717ISBN:0393046710
Description: Like New. {Like New} Hardback with Dust Jacket. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. 845 pages with 58 black and white illustrations and including glossary of abbreviations, notes, list of works cited and index. Published 1999. read more
Description: Acceptable. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc, New York.
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780393046717ISBN:0393046710
Description: Near Fine in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Hardcover 1999 edition. Dust jacket bound in new brodart in fine condition. Pages unmarked and clean. Binding firm. Minor bump to board corner. [845 pages] read more
"Kershaw's book is the best I have encountered at helping the reader to understand how someone like Hitler was able to become the supreme ruler of Germany. The book starts out as an excellent biography of Hitler's early years, but in the mid-1920s it changes into more of a sociological history of Germany between the wars: why the Weimar Republic failed, what average Germans cared about, and what it was about Hitler's message that resonated with the people and why. Hitler himself is such a cipher - a one-dimensional character with little depth or recognizable personality - that the book necessarily becomes more of a biography of those around Hitler who enabled his rise to power.
The first volume of a two-book set, "Hubris" leaves off in 1936 at the zenith of Hitler's power, before he began charting the course that would inevitably lead to war and his own downfall as well as that of Germany. I can't wait to start reading the second volume."
"This book gives a good account of Hitler's highly improbable rise to power, but does not resolve the question of why Hindenburg appointed Hitler chancellor. It says that Hindenburg initially refused, until ex-chancellor Franz von Papen convinced him that Hitler would be harmless as chancellor. He could be safely contained, said von Papen, "boxed in" by other right-wingers in the cabinet and by Hindenburg himself. That is Kershaw's version.
Why Hindenburg changed his mind is one of the great controversies of history. Joachim Fest said the reasons were "too complicated to list." But George Seldes said that in 1932 a tremendous scandal exploded in Germany, involving Hindenburg. His East Prussian property at Neudeck was involved in tax frauds. Hitler promised to suppress the entire scandal if he was made chancellor. "Hindenburg covered over his scandal of corruption with his appointment of Hitler as chancellor." Was this why Hitler was unleashed on the world? Who knows? Kershaw does not say."
"Hitler's birth, youth and rise to power are profiled by Kershaw in the first of his two volume biography of the Nazi ruler. No political genius, lazy, socially maladroit, and not terribly bright, his sole talent seems to have been as an amazingly charismatic public speaker whose ability to whip his audiences into an almost rapturous state was enough to make him the leader of Germany as the book ends."
"Kershaw is at first sight an odd choice to write a biography because as a structuralist he is more inclined to look towards power structures, organizations etc to explain historical events rather than the "great man" approach to history.
However, what at fist sight would appear to be a disadvantage turns out to be of major benefit. We get both a detailed account of Hitler's life, but also a very sure footed and insightful explanation of German political history from the end of the First World War through to 1936.
As for Hitler himself, apart from liking animals and being attentive and considerate to his junior staff he had no redeeming features as a person. I already knew this, but Kershaw's book makes plain what an egotistical, psychotic bore he was. Any charisma he displayed was only evident as a master propagandist.
This book is an excellent history of the rise of the Nazis. For anyone wanting an authoritative and well written account I would strongly recommend this book."
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