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In the Garden of Beasts

Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

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In the Garden of Beasts

Written by: Erik Larson
Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
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“Larson is a marvelous writer...superb at creating characters with a few short strokes.”—New York Times Book Review

Erik Larson has been widely acclaimed as a master of narrative non-fiction, and in his new book, the bestselling author of Devil in the White City turns his hand to a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power.

The time is 1933, the place, Berlin, when William E. Dodd becomes America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany in a year that proved to be a turning point in history.

A mild-mannered professor from Chicago, Dodd brings along his wife, son, and flamboyant daughter, Martha. At first Martha is entranced by the parties and pomp, and the handsome young men of the Third Reich with their infectious enthusiasm for restoring Germany to a position of world prominence. Enamored of the “New Germany,” she has one affair after another, including with the suprisingly honorable first chief of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. But as evidence of Jewish persecution mounts, confirmed by chilling first-person testimony, her father telegraphs his concerns to a largely indifferent State Department back home. Dodd watches with alarm as Jews are attacked, the press is censored, and drafts of frightening new laws begin to circulate. As that first year unfolds and the shadows deepen, the Dodds experience days full of excitement, intrigue, romance—and ultimately, horror, when a climactic spasm of violence and murder reveals Hitler’s true character and ruthless ambition.

Suffused with the tense atmosphere of the period, and with unforgettable portraits of the bizarre Göring and the expectedly charming--yet wholly sinister--Goebbels, In the Garden of Beasts lends a stunning, eyewitness perspective on events as they unfold in real time, revealing an era of surprising nuance and complexity. The result is a dazzling, addictively readable work that speaks volumes about why the world did not recognize the grave threat posed by Hitler until Berlin, and Europe, were awash in blood and terror. 20th Century Americas Europe Germany Judaism Military Modern Politicians Politics & Activism United States Wars & Conflicts War Holocaust Soviet Union Socialism
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This is a very dark time in world history yet Erik Larson has created an incredible work that both presented the subject matter clearly and entertained me as a reader. The narrator was excellent!

Captivating!

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Fascinating look at the Nazi machine from insiders. Still terrifying and shocking. A compelling read.

Outstanding historical review !

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I have been meaning to listen to this book for the longest time… I’m glad I finally. Exceptionally well researched and written, Larsen provides an inside look at the goings on in Berlin during Hitler’s rise to power through the lens of an American diplomat, and his adult daughter. So much here not found in other books. Highly recommended.

Berlin pre-WWII backstory

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Anti-climactic after reading Dead Wake, a masterpiece. Although this book was interesting and beautifully perfomed, I found myself waiting for the story to build to an astounding crescendo..... but none arrived. Not altogether bad however. The book does give one a excellent feeling for the oppression of pre-war national socialism.

Anti-climactic after Dead Wake.

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I had always thought that Ambassador Dodd was thought of as weak and ineffective but given the circumstances of the rise of Hitler and unwillingness of the US and other countries to take the threat seriously, I see him in a very different light. A very compelling listen.

Loved it

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