Product Description

This book aims to provide a clear and informative guide to the twists and turns of German history from the early middle ages to the present day. The multi-faceted, problematic history of the German lands has provoked a wide range of debates and differences of interpretation. Dr Fulbrook provides a crisp synthesis of a vast array of historical material, and explores the interrelationships between social, political and cultural factors in the light of scholarly controversies. German history is renowned for it peculiarities and paradoxes. The land of Luther, Bach and Goethe is also the land of Hitler and the Holocaust. The ‘land in the centre of Europe’ played a pivotal role in the European balance of power, yet never found a satisfactory identity or even stable boundaries. For centuries, the loose framework of the ‘Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation’, dominated by the Austrian Habsburgs, permitted a myriad of social and political forms and cultural traditions. With late, rapid industrialisation and unification of a Prussian-dominated ‘small’ Germany, domestic tensions contributed to the unleashing century, the status of a divided Germany echoed, refracted, and had implications for wider developments and divisions across the world. Only recently has the breaching of the Berlin Wall and the breathtaking rapid unification of the two germanies marked a dramatic new beginning in German history and the international order. This is the only single-volume history of Germany in English which offers a broad, general coverage of the main themes and topics. It will therefore be essential reading for all students of German, European studies and history, and will be a helpful guide to general readers, members of the business community and travellers to Germany.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101992 in Books
• Published on: 1991-01-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 281 pages

Review
‘… a thunderingly good read … The fact that the story takes in the 1989–90 Revolution is an added bonus … the best introduction to German history for the general reader.’ German History

‘… with Mary Fulbrook’s Concise History of Germany we have received a book which is well worth reading by the history student as well as anyone with a general interest in history.‘ Jönköpirgs-Poslen

‘… her concise history of Germany will doubtlessly appeal to the so called wide audience … an excellent introduction and summary.‘ Södermanlands Nyheter

‘The intended audience of students, businessmen and businesswomen, travellers, and even non-Germanist scholars looking for a brisk and readable introduction to German history may profitably take her book in hand.‘ H-Net Book Review

Customer Reviews

Enthralling
The best of its kind: easily the best introduction to German history in a single volume. This is highly accessible, covering the broad sweep of German history from the earliest tribes on German soil to the reunification of 1990. The book is not just a dry narrative, but rather a sparkling analysis that will be invaluable to all those with an interest in German history. Academics will of course say that it is too short to do justice to its subject; but for the rest of us, this is invaluable as a way in to a huge subject which can seem daunting to the beginner. Highly recommended, and is likely to lead you to read more in this field.

Approachable and involving analysis of German history
I bought this book when I moved to Germany as part of my process of getting to know the country - it's an excellent concise summary of the country giving the reader a feel for the origins of modern Germany. I found it fascinating reading and both involving and approachable in style, and it has been a useful complement to my exploration of the country since I've been here.
The balance, in terms of giving gradually increasing coverage to more detailed times, is just right.
It was one of the few books I could find which didn't concentrate solely on Germany's two wars of the 20th century - though these are naturally covered and objectively analysed.

The broad coverage is a good starting point for further exploration of Germany with substantial historical content and intelligent analysis.

A Concise History of Germany
The subject is a difficult one to cover in so few pages but I did find the style of writing a little long-winded and highbrow at times. Easy reading it is not.