Short Synopsis
An internationally bestselling, fresh, and entertaining take on the 2,000-year history of Germany—a country at the heart of the West's survival.

Full Synopsis
2,000 YEARS OF HISTORY IN ONE RIVETING AFTERNOON

A country both admired and feared, Germany has been the epicenter of world events time and again: the Reformation, both World Wars, the fall of the Berlin Wall. It did not emerge as a modern nation until 1871—yet today, Germany is the world's fourth-largest economy and a standard-bearer of liberal democracy.

"There’s no point studying the past unless it sheds some light on the present," writes James Hawes in this brilliantly concise history that has already captivated hundreds of thousands of readers. "It is time, now more than ever, for us all to understand the real history of Germany."

“An excellent little book . . . [Hawes] has a sense of humour, and a sharp eye for similarities between then and now.” -The Spectator

“A new, must-read book by the writer James Hawes.” -Economist.com

“A bold thesis; an authoritative sweep and an exhilarating read.” -Professor Karen Leeder, Prof. of Modern German Literature, University of Oxford