Nightmare Years, The [Mass Market Paperback]

William L. Shirer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

The author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich chronicles the years 1930 to 1940, discussing the emergence of Hitler in Europe, the workings of the Nazis, and the war. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'An outstanding achievement of journalistic history; indeed it is the best kind of accurate and absorbing history.' Washington Post 'A superb journalist... Shirer was close enough to Hitler to feel the Nazi leader's messianic personal force... An unusually fine book.' - Time 'No one ever did more to explain the rise of the Nazis.' - Barbara Tuchman" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

William Shirer was one of the greatest journalists of the twentieth century. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is an established classic that has not been out of print since first publication. His The Collapse of the Third Republic remains the most penetrating insight into the fall of France yet penned. The Nightmare Years was a No.1 bestseller in the United States on first publication. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553253336
• ISBN-13: 978-0553253337
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 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).

23 of 23 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.

7 of 8 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.