For the past 140 years, Germany has been the central power in continental Europe. Twenty-five years ago a new German state came into being. How much do we really understand this new Germany, and how do its people now understand themselves?
Neil MacGregor argues that uniquely for any European country, no coherent, over-arching narrative of Germany's history can be constructed, for in Germany both geography and history have always been unstable. Beginning with the fifteenth-century invention of modern printing by Gutenberg, MacGregor chooses objects and ideas, people and places which show us something of this collective imagination. There has never been a book about Germany quite like it.
'Brilliant, bold, remarkable.' David Blackbourn, Guardian
'A dazzling history.' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times, Books of the Year
'Thrilling . . . MacGregor's vivid history is a rollercoaster ride of ideas, artefacts and images.' Peter Watson, The Times
'Succeeds triumphantly in demonstrating the richness and diversity of German culture.' Richard J. Evans, The Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year
'Emotionally gripping, written with deep insight but a feather-light touch.' Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times, Books of the Year
'His method is memory. His way in is through objects and people; places and buildings; paintings, toys and printed money; forests and single oak trees . . . timely and important.' Rebecca K. Morrison, Independent
