The Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany presents a richly illustrated, integrated, chronological account of German history from Charlemagne to the modern era. Written in a lively, accessible manner for a general audience by a leading academic expert, this book is unique in its authority, approach and scope. Martin Kitchen focuses particularly on the German people - their culture and society. In this way he illuminates and puts into perspective the country's political history, from its origins as a collection of small, German-speaking states to its present-day status as a major European and world power. In special illustrated boxes and panels throughout the book, he reveals the great cultural and intellectual contribution Germans have made to the world through the works of figures such as Martin Luther, Bach, Kant, Wagner, and Gropius. YA. A history of Germany from the days of Julius Caesar to the Reunification in the 1990s. Because it is a survey of 2000 years of history, no subject is treated in detail. Each chapter covers an era and briefly discusses the major political, economic, and military events and their impact on the country. The book is lavishly illustrated with full-color prints, maps, and period photographs. An extensive reading list for each chapter is included; unfortunately, many of the books recommended are in German.?Robert Burnham, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. A splendidly written narrative, this glossy volume can attract the attention of new students and veteran scholars of the wild ups and downs of German history. Aided by a plethora of color images, Kitchen exerts his appeal by keeping before the reader the abiding questions of the country's identity: who is a German, and where is Germany? Answering these questions, Kitchen delivers an interpretive accounting of political structures from the Holy Roman Empire to the latest reunified state. Necessarily simplifying without being simplistic, the author touches the essentials that have shaped, and haunted, the country: Luther, the Reformation, the Thirty Years War, the ascendance of Prussia, the Napoleonic impact, and the disasters of the twentieth century. All is not goose-stepping and war, though. Kitchen encapsulates in illustrated sidebars the Germans' signal cultural achievements in music, painting, and literature, spanning such varied artists as Bach and Grosz. With such breadth combined with depth in the crucial periods, Kitchen offers libraries an excellent resource. Gilbert Taylor 'A splendidly written narrative, this glossy volume can attract the attention of new students and veteran scholars of the wild ups and downs of German history. With such breadth combined with depth in the crucial periods, Kitchen offers libraries an excellent resource.' Booklist 'Martin Kitchen provides an insightful overview that is lavishly illustrated with maps, portraits and photographs … this is a welcome addition to the Cambridge history series.' Toronto Globe and Mail 'The book is lavishly illustrated with full-color prints, maps, and period photographs. An extensive reading list for each chapter is included.' School Library Journal This authoritative and richly illustrated book covers the whole sweep of German history. Used Book in Good Condition