The Shortest History of Germany

The bestselling story of Europe's most admired and feared country, from Julius Caesar to Angela Merkel

Read in an afternoon. Remember for a lifetime.
In his acclaimed new bestseller, now in paperback, James Hawes tells the story of Europe's most admired and feared country, from Julius Caesar to Angela Merkel. With more than 100 maps and images, this is a fresh, concise and entertaining attempt to answer the question: are the Germans really us, or them?

Autorentext
James Hawes studied German at Hertford College, Oxford and UCL, then held lectureships in German at the universities of Maynooth, Sheffield and Swansea. He has published six novels with Jonathan Cape. Speak for England (2005) predicted Brexit, and it has been adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies. His earlier non-fiction title, Englanders and Huns, was shortlisted for the Political Books of the Year Awards in 2015. He leads the MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University.

Klappentext

The perception of modern Germany as a final outpost of liberal democratic ideals is placed in a historical context, and addressed as a point on a trajectory beginning with Julius Caesar's invasion in 58 BC, in this concise, politically-charged history of Germany, which situates the extremes of the German political experience throughout ancient and recent history in relation to the broader climate. Also appeared in April Buyer's Notes

Zusammenfassung
'An excellent little book... [Hawes] knows what he's on about and his conclusions are measured, but he favours clear, concise prose over dense academese. He has a sense of humour, and a sharp eye for similarities between then and now.'
SPECTATOR
'The Shortest History of Germany, a new, must-read book by the writer James Hawes, [recounts] how the so-called limes separating Roman Germany from non-Roman Germany has remained a formative distinction throughout the post-ancient history of the German people.'
ECONOMIST
'Sweeping and confident... has a frightening urgency'
OBSERVER
'Engaging... I suspect I shall remember it for a lifetime'
OLDIE