The Nightmare Years 1930-1940 (20th Century Journey : Memoir of the Life and the Times, Vol 2) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shirer, who has witnessed much history in the making, rehashes too much of it in this graceless, humorless third and final installment of memoirs. More interesting is the personal material. His career as a radio commentator ended when CBS fired him in 1947, and he reveals the dark role played by Edward R. Murrow. His account of the affair begins, "I've waited a long time to do this." Shirer describes the struggle to support his family during the McCarthy years, then his dramatic success as a bestselling author with the 1960 publication of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich . But his memoir also becomes an occasion to get back at publishers and reviewers who were not enthusiastic over his books; at length he recalls frustrating conferences with Alfred Knopf and others, reprints negative reviews and quibbles over them. He also takes the opportunity to defend his work against the disdain of historians who, he maintains, cannot accept his popularity. Photos.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

When it comes to writing history, Shirer extols the values of first-hand observation. Personal impressions and anecdotes have enlivened his books and accounted in part for their popularity. Thus the chronicler of the Third Reich ( The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, LJ 8/15/60) and the Third French Republic ( The Collapse of the Third Republic, LJ 10/15/69) approached the writing of his memoirs: "I hoped to make it not so much a memoir of myself, but of the times I had lived through," he writes. This third volume covering the Cold War years brings his journey to the present. Highlights include his unhappy separation from CBS in 1947 and the ordeal of Americans in the McCarthy era. Shirer also fills in background on his best-selling books. Shirer's relative isolation from historical events during this period lessens the value of this volume, but his reflections in the preface and introduction help to balance the commonplace observations. Sure to be in demand in public libraries. BOMC alternate.
- William C. McCully Jr., Park Ridge P.L., Ill.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 654 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1st Edition. edition (April 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316787035
• ISBN-13: 978-0316787031
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #736,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly readable eye-wintess Account, August 10, 2005

By	K.A.Goldberg (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightmare Years: 1930 - 1940 (Paperback)

In this superb memoir, William L. Shirer describes life inside Nazi Germany from his six-year perch (1934-1940) as a foreign correspondent for newspapers and CBS radio. Readers get a feel for everyday life in Nazi Germany as Hitler consolidated his power, crushed (or killed) his opponents, and put the jobless to work building a war machine for future conquest.

Shirer begins by describing his days in Vienna, Afghanistan, Spain, and France, but the book's heart comes with his posting to Berlin in 1934. Readers learn about Gestapo terror, prewar rearmament, increasing anti-Semitism, and the devotion of many (but not all) Germans to their violent Fuehrer. Shirer also examines the inexplicable appeasement policies of France and Britain - policies that leave one as baffled today as in the 1930's. The author recounts joining Ed Murrow at CBS Radio in 1938 and then broadcasting events such as the Anchluss (takeover) of Austria, the betrayal at Munich, and the German invasion of Poland. Shirer also recounts traveling with the German army as it tore through Belgium in 1940, seeing Paris under Nazi rule, and broadcasting the French surrender. The book's nicely readable prose vividly recreates the stifling atmosphere and the unfolding, utterly preventable tragedy.

Journalist-author William L. Shirer (1904-93) wrote superbly readable eye-witness accounts of 20th Century history. This 1984 memoir was his final bestseller on Nazi Germany, and every bit as readable as the earlier two, BERLIN DIARY (1941) and RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH (1960).

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Front row seat, August 16, 2004

By	May May (BETHESDA, MARYLAND United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightmare Years: 1930 - 1940 (Paperback)

Shirer writes a wonderful, exciting memoir of what it was like to be in Europe as Hitler began his rise to power.

As I read, I became aware that Hitler could have been stopped many times before the U.S. became involved. Had the French or the British acted in a timely manner, Hitler could have been squashed like a bug before all the destruction and loss of life. But politics got in the way and everyone seemed afraid to call Hitler on his obvious, transparent lies and bold treaty violations. Churchill had his number, but he was criticized strongly. Everyone believed Hitler's lies, they closed their eyes and allowed him to grow powerful. He bluffed everyone.

I enjoyed the book and found it good reading. Now I am reading Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. I recommend The Nightmare Years as a good preface.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves Wide Reading Audience, September 27, 2009

By	Mr. Jones - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nightmare Years: 1930 - 1940 (Paperback)

Even though I was reading this book in September 2009, Shirer's memoirs made me feel as if I was personally experiencing the turbulent 1930s in Germany and beyond. Shirer is a very gifted writer. Shirer was right man for the job: sufficiently proficient in French, German, and Italian. (compare with John Gunther, who did not speak foreign languages). A man of strong convinction who saw the Nazi for what they really were.

I personally enjoyed the earlier chapters (Afghanistan, etc). Note the passages regarding Ed Murrow (see volume III).

According to the NYT paid obituary column:

Theresa, aged 97, died January 25, 2008 at her home in New York. Survived by her daughters Linda Rae of Cross River, NY, and Eileen (Inga) Dean of Lenox, MA, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.