The topic of In the Garden of Beasts is one that has been discussed and analyzed numerous times throughout history. From ancient times to the modern era, In the Garden of Beasts has been the subject of debate, research and reflection. Its influence extends to different areas of life, from politics to culture, the economy and society in general. Over time, In the Garden of Beasts has acquired diverse meanings and has been interpreted in different ways, which has contributed to its importance and relevance in today's world. In this article, we will explore different aspects related to In the Garden of Beasts and try to shed light on its impact and implication in our daily reality.
Author | Erik Larson |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | History |
Publisher | Crown Publishers |
Publication date | 2011 |
Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
Pages | 464 |
ISBN | 0307408841 |
LC Class | E748.D6 L37 2011 |
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin is a 2011 non-fiction book by Erik Larson.
Larson recounts the career of the American Ambassador to Germany, William Dodd, particularly the years 1933 to 1937 when he and his family, including his daughter Martha, lived in Berlin. The Ambassador, who earned his Ph.D. in Leipzig 40 years earlier, and who, at the time of his appointment, was head of the History Department at the University of Chicago, initially hoped that Germany's new Nazi government would grow more moderate, including in its persecution of the Jews. Martha, separated from her husband and in the process of divorce, became caught up in the glamor and excitement of Berlin's social scene and had a series of liaisons, most of them sexual, including among them Gestapo head Rudolf Diels and Soviet attaché and secret agent Boris Vinogradov. She defended the regime to her skeptical friends. Within months of their arrival, the family became aware of the evils of Nazi rule. Dodd periodically protested against it. President Roosevelt was pleased with Dodd's performance while most State Department officials, suspicious of his lack of background in their area of expertise, as well as his inability to finance embassy activities from his own wealth, found him undiplomatic and idiosyncratic.
The title of the work is a loose translation of Tiergarten, a zoo and park in the center of Berlin.
The other historical figures who appear in Larson's account include: