German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation

Normally I find surveys a little too shallow and pale in complexion. This book is not included among those works which gloss over historically significant points without adding interpretive contribution. There is substance and plenty of it for the novice reader and especially for those with more than a passing interest in German history. Professor William H. Hagen’s, German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation, is a veritable treasure trove. Professor Hagen encapsulates Germany’s social, cultural, politico-diplomatic, intellectual, and economic history in this survey about as well as possible. The fact that Hagen breaks down German history very nearly into “Four Lives” makes for a noteworthy and novel approach.Based on Hagen’s approach, the Four Lives he is referencing are as follows: (1) the Holy Roman Empire before the French Revolution begins in 1789; (2) the “long nineteenth-century” which for historians typically encompasses 1789-1914; (3) the period between and including both World War I and WW2 or the years from 1914-1945 and lastly; (4) the post WW2 era to the present; during which Germany was divided by the victorious powers, became a two-headed actor during the Cold War, and then experienced reunification and re-emerged on the European scene as a preeminent player.The author’s extensive knowledge of all-things German is exemplary and his uncanny ability to demonstrate historical interdependence between important persons, economic conditions, intellectual trends, and cultural normatives makes this survey a MUST HAVE for anyone seriously interested in German history. Since Austria comprises the German-speaking orbit, it is also given treatment as are wider European and global issues. Another strength of this work that deserves mention, is Hagen’s fantastic selection of photos and maps. Add to this his efforts to provide context and comprehensive narrative for each map (plenty of them) and for the illustrations, and this makes for a real bonus to an already rich text from a distinguished historian. My only gripe with this book (although minor) is that it lacks footnotes. It does have a decent bibliography to its credit. All in all, this book is strongly recommended and deserves a place on both the novice historian’s shelf as well as the expert, namely since Hagen so effectively breathes life into each of Germany’s “Four Lives.”

Being a student of history I found this book to be invaluable in the clear, understandable way in which the information is presented. There is some presumption of prior knowledge but far from detracting it has spurred me on to further inquiry. When using e-books for reference my only complaint is that the page numbers are not displayed. I recommend this book for a comprehensive history of Germany especially the aftermath of the First World War and the lead up to the Second World War. I am much more informed about German history now.

A bit academic. Not a casual read. Requires attention. Otherwise fascinating and informative.

This is a helpful, well written book on German history. Since Hagen has written other books on German history, he has left out a lot of material that he might have included in this work. I am wishing he had included more.

I know very little about German history, but wanted to get a broad overview before taking a trip there. I selected this book because it was described as covering the "pre-modern era of the Holy Roman Empire" and because of the good reviews. Unfortunately, I was disappointed on two main counts:1) The "era of the Holy Roman Empire" consisted of a few sentences about Charlemagne, and six total paragraphs summarizing events from 800-1500. It didn't start providing any detail until around 1789.2) Nearly every paragraph I read concerned an event, person or German term that was not defined adequately in the book. For example, the first few chapters referred repeatedly to the Thirty Years War, but I couldn't find more than a brief phrase describing the war; the book doesn't say who was in it or what it was about. The Habsburgs and Martin Luther received similar treatment. Since I didn't have background knowledge of these subjects, most of the points were meaningless to me. I gave up after 50 pages when I realized I was taking very little knowledge away from it.It sounds like for someone who is already knowledgeable about German history, this book might present some interesting ideas about the meaning of what happened. For someone who first needs to learn what happened, I don't think this is a good choice.

I haven't finished the book, but I find it provides a lot of insight in how to understand the social sciences scientifically, and also how to detect propaganda. His description of the "master narrative" and all of the different narratives on Germany, especially how they deal with the problem of National Socialism, is instructive in the way it deconstructs and articulates the many different approaches to German History, from the Left to the Right. I will update this review when i have finished the book.

Very detailed book with some interesting photos, illustrations and graphics. I think the author should have taken some advice on the layout of the book though. The typeface is very small and the graphics aren't presented at their best. This makes the book a bit of a chore to read. Shame.