In the Garden of the Beasts

by Erik Larson
In the Garden of the Beasts cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Technical:
  • ID: 899
  • Added: 2025-09-21
  • Updated: 2025-09-21
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
bookbrowse.com · Unknown · 2025-09-23
compelling 4.50

Erik Larson's 'In the Garden of Beasts' offers a vivid and meticulously researched account of the rise of the Nazis in 1933 Berlin through the experiences of the U.S. ambassador William Dodd and his daughter Martha. The book combines fastidious scholarship with engaging storytelling, making the historical events compelling and personal.

Erik Larson's 'In the Garden of Beasts' is a captivating exploration of the early days of Hitler's regime in 1933 Berlin. The narrative centers around the Dodd family, particularly the ambassador William Dodd and his daughter Martha, who provide a unique perspective on the unfolding events. Larson's meticulous research and engaging prose bring the period to life, blending historical facts with personal anecdotes. The book is rich in detail, from the mundane to the tragic, and Larson's compassionate lyricism makes the story both informative and emotionally resonant. The Dodds' experiences, including their interactions with key Nazi figures and their growing awareness of the regime's brutality, offer a compelling and often harrowing glimpse into a pivotal moment in history. The narrative builds to the chilling Night of the Long Knives, highlighting the escalating violence and paranoia of the time. Larson's ability to weave together historical documents and personal accounts makes this a must-read for anyone interested in this period.

Quick quotes

    They arrive wanting to give the rise of German nationalism the benefit of the doubt.

    The narrative builds to the horrific Night of the Long Knives, when Hitler arrested and slaughtered his more moderate supporters as well as his rivals.

    Larson's fastidious scholarship provides the appropriate gravity to this subject. But his psychological perception and empathic imagination lend flesh to the documents, music to the ballrooms.

criticsatlarge.ca · Unknown · 2025-09-23
compelling 4.50

Erik Larson's 'In the Garden of the Beasts' provides a chilling and insightful look at the rise of Nazi Germany through the eyes of the first American ambassador to Berlin, William E. Dodd. The book effectively captures the tension and moral dilemmas faced by those who witnessed the early stages of the Holocaust.

Erik Larson's 'In the Garden of the Beasts' is a compelling narrative that delves into the early days of Nazi Germany through the perspective of William E. Dodd, the first American ambassador to Berlin. The book offers a unique and chilling account of the moral and ethical challenges faced by those who were eyewitnesses to the rise of the Third Reich. Larson's meticulous research and engaging storytelling make this a gripping read that sheds light on the complexities of the period. They found the personal stories and historical details particularly compelling, providing a deeper understanding of the events leading up to World War II.

Quick quotes

    The book is a chilling and insightful look at the rise of Nazi Germany

    Larson's meticulous research and engaging storytelling make this a gripping read

    The personal stories and historical details provide a deeper understanding of the events leading up to World War II

haleycomm.com · Unknown · 2020-08-11
insightful 4.50

In the Garden of Beasts offers a captivating and insightful look into the early days of Hitler's Germany through the eyes of the Dodd family. The book provides a vivid, atmospheric panorama of the Third Reich and its leaders, capturing the nuances of a terrible period in history.

In the Garden of Beasts is praised for its engaging narrative that makes historical events feel like a fictional story. The book provides a detailed and captivating account of the Dodd family's experiences in Berlin during the early days of Hitler's regime. It offers a vivid portrayal of the Third Reich and its leaders, capturing the complexities and horrors of the period. The narrative sometimes bogs down in bureaucratic details and personal dramas, but overall, it provides a necessary and insightful read for understanding the rise of Nazi Germany. The book is highly recommended for its ability to make history come alive and for its important lessons about a critical moment in world history.

Quick quotes

    In this mesmerizing portrait of the Nazi capital, Larson plumbs a far more diabolical urban cauldron than in his bestselling The Devil in the White City

    An excellent study, taking a tiny instant of modern history and giving it specific weight, depth and meaning.

    Larson captures the nuances of this terrible period. This is a grim read but a necessary one for the present generation.

themindreels.com · Unknown · 2015-08-19
fascinating 4.50

In the Garden of Beasts offers a gripping account of William E. Dodd's time as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, revealing the contradictions and horrors of Nazi Germany. The book highlights Dodd's slow realization of the true nature of the regime and the complex reactions of the international community.

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson provides a vivid and gripping account of William E. Dodd's tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Germany in the early 1930s. The book delves into Dodd's initial optimism about Nazi Germany, which gradually turns into horror as he witnesses the regime's true nature. Larson's narrative is compelling, offering a fresh perspective on a well-trodden subject by focusing on the personal experiences of Dodd and his family. The book also sheds light on the contradictions within the Nazi regime, such as their disinterest in the violent actions of the SA militia and their extreme reactions to international criticism. It's a powerful exploration of the complexities of the time, revealing how the international community's inaction contributed to the escalation of Nazi atrocities.

Quick quotes

    They didn't like it when someone elsewhere in the world attacked their views or acts, but thought nothing of doing whatever they pleased in their own country: two very opposing reactions to the outside world.

    It’s also evidence that if that outside world had made a much bigger fuss about what was happening to Germany’s Jews at the time, they might have prevailed in stopping some of it from occurring.

    Larson — whose previous non-fiction books examined the rise of America’s first serial killer during the time of the 1893 Chicago’s World’s Fair (The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, 2003); and connected the lives of legendary murderer Hawley Crippen and Guglielmo Marconi, the brilliant inventor of the telegraph (Thunderstruck, 2006) — has long been fascinated by the often unlikely connections between people and events.

Appears in Lists