In the Garden of Beasts - Erik Larson

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson describes the experience of the family of the US Ambassador to Germany from 1933 through 1934.  At this time, Adolf Hitler had become chancellor of Germany but was not yet president.  Ambassador Dodd is a mild mannered history professor of modest means attempting to make his way through the diplomatic and political minefields with his integrity intact. 

The book describes the brutality of the regime to Jews and Americans in Germany along with the strange quirkiness of the leaders.   At a concert Herman Goering, wearing one of his designer military uniforms, distracts the guests behind him as his large frame teeters on a small antique chair.

One of Hitler's staff even seeks to have Ambassador Dodd's daughter, Martha, meet Hitler in the hopes of that a marriage to an American would help to moderate Hitler's behavior.  Her social life is very busy as she dates the head of the gestapo, a french diplomat and a member of the Soviet embassy along with a few famous American authors.

The diplomats in the book attempt to sort out the truth and the deceptions between various factions within the US state department and the German government.  Each faction within the Nazi government was plotting to kill their enemies in the other faction.  Most of them badly underestimating Hitler's resolve and too willing to believe his proclamations desiring peace.

It was interesting to note one of the reasons the US government did not criticize Germany more harshly during this time.  Germany owed a significant debt to US banks and the US was attempting to secure payment without aggravating them. 

Seven minute interview on Ambassador Dodd's Columbus Day talk on why tyrants throughout  history always fail

 

Tom Hanks is working on a movie adaptation of the book with Natalie Portman cast as his daughter



The book, In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin is available from Amazon.com.