Berlin: Life and Loss in the City That Shaped the Century
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-06-26 08:51:48
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Sinclair McKay
- ISBN：0241503175
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
An almighty storm hit Berlin in the last days of April 1945。 Enveloped by the unstoppable force of East and West， explosive shells pounded buildings while the inhabitants of a once glorious city sheltered in dark cellars - just like their Fuhrer in his bunker。 The Battle of Berlin was a key moment in history; marking the end of a deathly regime， the defeated city was ripped in two by the competing superpowers of the Cold War。
In Berlin， bestselling historian Sinclair McKay draws on never-before-seen first-person accounts to paint a picture of a city ravaged by ideology， war and grief。 Yet to fully grasp the fall of Berlin， it is crucial to also explore in detail the years beforehand and to trace the city being rebuilt， as two cities， in the aftermath。 From the passionate and austere Communists of 1919 to the sleek and serious industrialists of 1949， and from the glitter of innovation from artists such as George Grosz to the desperate border crossings for three decades from 1961， this is a story of a city that shaped an entire century， as seen through the eyes not of its rulers， but of those who walked its streets。
In Berlin， bestselling historian Sinclair McKay draws on never-before-seen first-person accounts to paint a picture of a city ravaged by ideology， war and grief。 Yet to fully grasp the fall of Berlin， it is crucial to also explore in detail the years beforehand and to trace the city being rebuilt， as two cities， in the aftermath。 From the passionate and austere Communists of 1919 to the sleek and serious industrialists of 1949， and from the glitter of innovation from artists such as George Grosz to the desperate border crossings for three decades from 1961， this is a story of a city that shaped an entire century， as seen through the eyes not of its rulers， but of those who walked its streets。
Reviews
all_day_dream_about_books
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This is thoroughly researched and well written book by the author。 It is very detailed and sometimes the reader might get bogged down with minute details。 It is not written as a history textbook would provide us facts。 It is interspersed with the accounts of some residents who gave their honest opinion。This book is for anyone who wants to read about the happenings and incidents inside Berlin and what the city and its inhabitants had to endure who had nothing to do with any politics and were tryi This is thoroughly researched and well written book by the author。 It is very detailed and sometimes the reader might get bogged down with minute details。 It is not written as a history textbook would provide us facts。 It is interspersed with the accounts of some residents who gave their honest opinion。This book is for anyone who wants to read about the happenings and incidents inside Berlin and what the city and its inhabitants had to endure who had nothing to do with any politics and were trying to make a living or helping their neighbors。 We have seen or read a lot of books and accounts about various atrocities that made our hearts crumble when we read about what inhumane activities a human could do as well as endurance of the survivors。 This book takes us inside the place where a part of it was happening and it's effects on it's population。I thank St。 Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ecopy 。。。more
Joe Hilley
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Received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaway - Wow！ Magnificent prose。 Thoroughly researched。 Sucked me in from the Preface and told me things I never knew about Berlin， about Germany， about history - about us。 Great book。
Autumn Danner
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History books are not my forte， but this account had my attention from the beginning。 I was both appalled and impressed by the Berlinites （my word）。 It is easy for me to pass judgement for things done during this period， but it was a hard life lived by people in Berlin through the years。 They suffered so much by everyone that made decisions for them and rolled over/through their city。 This account had me crying for numerous reasons。 These people had to rebuild multiple times。 They had to be very History books are not my forte， but this account had my attention from the beginning。 I was both appalled and impressed by the Berlinites （my word）。 It is easy for me to pass judgement for things done during this period， but it was a hard life lived by people in Berlin through the years。 They suffered so much by everyone that made decisions for them and rolled over/through their city。 This account had me crying for numerous reasons。 These people had to rebuild multiple times。 They had to be very resilient and resourceful。 This book is an incredible account of people who were determined to stand the test of times and get through any trial。 This book is a very well written unbiased account， and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about history。 。。。more
Nicole
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Consider this post my pre-review and thank you to Goodreads--just received this book from a Goodreads giveaway last week。 Arrived within in a week from notification。 I'm psyched to read it and already have a friend lined up to get the book after I read it。 Consider this post my pre-review and thank you to Goodreads--just received this book from a Goodreads giveaway last week。 Arrived within in a week from notification。 I'm psyched to read it and already have a friend lined up to get the book after I read it。 。。。more
Sheila
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From a marvelously poetic introduction springs forth the history of the City of Berlin， starting in 1945。 Most of the history of the bombing and wartime deprivations in the City are told anecdotally by civilians who were there。 Throughout， it is a story by and of the people of Berlin。This is a highly engrossing read starting with commentary going back and forth between 1919 and 1945。 The beginning itself explains a lot of German history and HOW the Nazi Party rose to control the country by talki From a marvelously poetic introduction springs forth the history of the City of Berlin， starting in 1945。 Most of the history of the bombing and wartime deprivations in the City are told anecdotally by civilians who were there。 Throughout， it is a story by and of the people of Berlin。This is a highly engrossing read starting with commentary going back and forth between 1919 and 1945。 The beginning itself explains a lot of German history and HOW the Nazi Party rose to control the country by talking about previous events and personalities。 Later， the story continues to move on through the end of the war and the post-war years。 There is a lot covered about the Cold War years that I didn’t know。The most notable aspect about this text is that it is really about the people who lived in Berlin， both celebrities and average citizens。 That’s why it was so hard to put down as the people who were there were quoted as to feelings and events， and even when they weren’t， we learned so much about their lives。Only a couple of quibbles about the technical aspects of the text。 One is an issue at about 87% of the text which is about what a punk rocker’s hairstyle should be called。 The style in which the head is shaved except for the ridge of hair running along the middle of the skull is called a “Mohawk，” NOT a “Mohican。” I’m of the age group that saw them in person （London） and won’t forget what a real one looked like （not a cute one on a female singer or model！）。 Maybe this terminology is different outside of the U。S。？ Also， the author is very fond of the word “bathos;” that’s not one that you usually see in print in the U。S。， or even the U。K。 as I read a lot of books by U。K。 authors。 It stuck out a bit。 Finally， there are some typos that I expect will be fixed prior to publication。This is a great book and not at all what I expected。 Engaging and interesting， I was very crabby when interrupted while reading it！ Please DO read this history of Berlin。A special thank you to Sinclair McKay， St。 Martin’s Press， and NetGalley for allowing me to read a pre-publication eGalley of this work！ I didn’t receive anything for reading or reviewing it except for knowledge and enjoyment。 Cheers！ 。。。more
Bonnye Reed
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