Description

A DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEK
A SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR
A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2023
ASPECTS OF HISTORY BOOKS OF THE YEAR
A GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
A DAILY MAIL BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK OF 2023

The prequel to Frank McDonough’s bestselling Hitler Years series, covering the dramatic era of German history that culminated in the rise to power of Adolf Hitler in 1933.

Established in the wake of German defeat in the First World War, the Weimar Republic held out the hope that democracy, stability and prosperity would take root in Germany. From the start, however, it was beset by political and economic upheaval and spasms of violence between left and right. Year by year, from 1918 to 1933, Frank McDonough describes the major events in both domestic and foreign policy and the personalities who shaped them, together with developments in Weimar’s flourishing cultural sphere. McDonough places particular focus on the parliamentary history of Weimar, arguing that it was the failure of parliamentary democracy to bring stability that allowed the power of the elected Reichstag to diminish, leading to Hitler’s accession to power.

The Weimar Years is the tragic story of a rise and fall, as well as a warning of how, under poor leadership, economic pressure and unrelenting political instability, a democracy can drift towards a form of authoritarian rule that eventually destroys it.

Publisher Review

Astonishing. A masterful account of the Weimar Republic that is the best I have ever read – and one that is destined to be a classic. An extraordinary achievement. * Peter Frankopan * Magisterial, terrifyingly relevant and yet also a celebration of Weimar’s delicious decadence: Frank McDonough’s new Weimar Years, the latest in his outstanding series on Nazi rule and how it happened, combines scholarly research, narrative brio and lucid analysis in a work that enjoys the creativity and libertinism of Weimar – while chronicling its flaws and its rising darkness. * Simon Sebag Montefiore * Yet again McDonough shows why he is one of the best chroniclers of 20th century Germany. This excellent book completes the set. Alongside his other volumes he now tells the whole story of Germany from one World War defeat to another. A giant achievement. * Dan Snow * Frank McDonough has done it again. This authoritative guide to the fractured Weimar Republic is both well-considered and immensely readable. Superb. * Clare Mulley, author of The Women Who Flew For Hitler * Written with an easy style which belies its author’s erudition, The Weimar Years is a masterpiece of narrative history – and a poignant lesson in how democracy can fail. * Roger Moorhouse * [A] brilliant new book… shows with terrifying clarity that everything in global politics connects * Daily Mail * [A] timely book, delivering a stark reminder of what happens when democratic foundations become eroded by social division and political apathy. * The Spectator * [McDonough] expertly guides the reader through the complex and heady events that led to the rise of Nazi Germany. This is compelling history writ large but with a judicious eye for detail * History of War magazine * Quite simply, a book that must be read * Get History * Best History Books of 2023: depicts, with a fine narrative touch, this era as one of decadence and cultural and social experiment * Daily Telegraph * Observer Best Books for Christmas 2023 * The Observer * a sparkling if unsettling account of the years after the end of the first world war, which were marked by economic desperation and repeated false dawns before the terrible reality of Hitler’s ascent to power. — Peter Frankopan * The Guardian online * The book’s most fascinating section is its chronicle of the complex web of events that led to Hitler’s chancellorship. * Wall Street Journal * PRAISE FOR FRANK McDONOUGH:

‘A masterclass in the history of Nazi Germany, with an internationally renowned expert as the teacher’ Get History.

‘What makes this volume really stand out is its stylish design and more than 80 coloured photographs, punctuating the account of Hitler’s slow but inevitable march to war’ Military History.

‘An impressive tome, beautifully presented with a body of illustrations… It is as readable as it is authoritative. Rarely has the odious story of the Third Reich been so elegantly presented’ History Today.

‘I have read many books on the period and Frank McDonough’s ranks above them all. Bravo’ Danny Baker.

‘McDonough writes clearly and readably with just enough detail on the huge canvas that he covers’ * Spectator *