Play Book Tag discussion

Shortly after Hitler became chancellor of Germany, William Dodd is appointed US Ambassador and sent to Berlin, where he also takes his family. This book tells the tale of Dodd’s time in that role and his increasing concerns about what he sees in that country the new laws being introduced, the increasing persecution of Jews and the censorship of the press, among other things. The book also shows how his daughter, Martha, settles in, and is initially entranced by what she sees, becoming a defender of this new Germany. I have read other books by this author and his writing style never fails to draw me in and it makes me feel that I am there living through it with his characters.
Larson also showed aspects of the time that I knew less about, especially the view within the US state department towards Germany at this time and the prevalence of antisemitism and the isolationist movement that led to very few visas being issued to those trying to leave Germany. I have put a hold on another book by this author that I hope to get to before the end of the year – The Splendid and the Vile – and I hope it will be just as good.

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