Well folks I had this as a download on my ipad. I needed the pulp so made the purchase even though I struggled to see the print. While I may have been one of the remaining few who thought that perhaps the average German (during the time leading up to WWII and the actual war) did not really know about the atrocities taking place, this book makes it perfectly clear that THEY ALL KNEW! The concentration camps existed down the street, around the corner, in so many areas and were publicly discussed by Nazi leaders that everyone HAD TO BE aware of them. The story of the Dodd family's life in Germany, their friendships, encounters with Nazi (and other) leaders and attempts to represent a 'normal American' lifestyle are eye-opening.
Don't get me started about Martha (she is the height of 'hoochie-mama-ness' far ahead of her time)! As the daughter of a diplomat, living in a foreign country, she lives her life with no concern for how it reflects on her father, her country or her up-bringing. In fact, it is most apparent that she cares nothing for anyone or anything other than the next attractive/evil/sexually active man who enters her sight! It is not possible to feel any sorrow for her later unhappiness as she and her husband (the one she kept) flee the country and eventually wonder where it would be best to die. Anywhere and much earlier would have been excellent for Martha!
The fact that Ambassador Dodd was correct in his evaluation of Hitler and the path he was following is small compensation for the way Dodd was treated by others in the diplomatic field and in the end by Roosevelt. He was last in line to be offered the ambassadorship to Berlin and was consistently treated poorly - especially when he lived within his means! (Do our present day leaders still subscribe to the belief that it is a bad idea to live on what you earn???)It is a shame that his insights were never given the respect they deserved to perhaps prevent the world-wide conflict that was WWII and the deaths that ensued.
Well written, well documented and a "can't-put-it-down read"! I enjoyed it from start to finish and was impressed with the photos which were one that have not been in every story about the era! An excellent author again writes a great book!
Don't get me started about Martha (she is the height of 'hoochie-mama-ness' far ahead of her time)! As the daughter of a diplomat, living in a foreign country, she lives her life with no concern for how it reflects on her father, her country or her up-bringing. In fact, it is most apparent that she cares nothing for anyone or anything other than the next attractive/evil/sexually active man who enters her sight! It is not possible to feel any sorrow for her later unhappiness as she and her husband (the one she kept) flee the country and eventually wonder where it would be best to die. Anywhere and much earlier would have been excellent for Martha!
The fact that Ambassador Dodd was correct in his evaluation of Hitler and the path he was following is small compensation for the way Dodd was treated by others in the diplomatic field and in the end by Roosevelt. He was last in line to be offered the ambassadorship to Berlin and was consistently treated poorly - especially when he lived within his means! (Do our present day leaders still subscribe to the belief that it is a bad idea to live on what you earn???)It is a shame that his insights were never given the respect they deserved to perhaps prevent the world-wide conflict that was WWII and the deaths that ensued.
Well written, well documented and a "can't-put-it-down read"! I enjoyed it from start to finish and was impressed with the photos which were one that have not been in every story about the era! An excellent author again writes a great book!
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