Taylor follows the wall from its construction in august 1961 right through to its toppling in 1989 in this wellresearched and intelligently structured book. The berlin wall by frederick taylor books the guardian. The berlin wall has always had a fascination for me, im not sure why it just did, perhaps it was because it was a tangible devide between east and west, between capitalism and communism or more likely it was because it often featured in one of the many spythrillers i loved so much as a child. Top 10 books about the berlin wall books the guardian. Written by frederick taylor, audiobook narrated by. In writing his book, taylor draws from a wide variety of sources. This vivid account of the wall and all that it meant reminds us that symbolism can be doubleedged, as a potent.
Frederick taylor tells the whole gripping story of the postwar political conflict that led to the tragedy of a divided berlin, when the city of almost four million was ruthlessly cut in two, unleashing a potentially catastrophic eastwest crisis. The author has done an excellent job of telling the story of the berlin wall, providing considerable background that i was unaware of, even though i was born in berlin in 1954. In this wellresearched book, frederick taylor tells the story behind the berlin wall why it was built, how it affected germans, berliners, and the superpower. The berlin wall was erected in 1961 to end all traffic between the citys two halves. The iconic symbol of a divided europe, the wall became a focus of western political pressure on east germany.
On the morning of august, 1961, the residents of east berlin found themselves cut off from family, friends and jobs in the west by a tangle of barbed wire. Within days the barbedwire entanglement would undergo an extraordinary metamorphosis. Frederick taylor tells the story of the postwar political conflict that led to a divided berlin and unleashed an eastwest crisis, which lasted until the. Superb, fastpaced and readable history this important book reminds us of a. A world divided, 19611989 frederick taylor on the morning of august, 1961, the residents of east berlin found themselves cut off from family, friends, and jobs in the west by a tangle of barbed wire that ruthlessly split a city of four million in two. August, 1961 november 9 1989 by frederick taylor 2007, e book at the. Taylors book is a vivid, comprehensive account of how the berlin wall came about, of the repulsive or inspiring events which took place along it during its 28year life, and of its eventual fall in 1989.
Rarely does history wind up its dramas so neatly, with the same actor reciting both prologue and epilogue, and frederick taylor quite rightly. Ryan langen on frederick taylor 2007 harold marcuse. The berlin wall by frederick taylor, 9781408802564, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In this wellresearched book, frederick taylor tells the story behind the berlin wall why it was built, how it affected germans, berliners, and the superpower rivalry between the. Frederick taylor the appearance of a hastilyconstructed barbed wire entanglement through the heart of berlin during the night of 12 august 1961 was both dramatic and unexpected. On the morning of august, 1961, the residents of east berlin fo. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Examining the roles east and west germany, the soviet union, and the united states played in the events surrounding the berlin wall, taylor argues that the west was. Published in 2006, frederick taylor s the berlin wall. He was educated at aylesbury grammar school and read history and modern languages at oxford university. Frederick taylor tells the story of the postwar political conflict that led to a divided berlin and unleashed an eastwest crisis, which lasted until the very people the wall had been built to imprison breached it on 9 november 1989. A physical manifestation of the struggle between soviet communism and american capitalism that stood for nearly thirty years, the berlin wall was the highrisk fault line between east and west on which rested the fate of all humanity. The atlantic monthlyon the morning of august, 1961, the residents of east berlin found themselves cut off from family, friends, and jobs in the west by a. Frederick taylor distinguished himself in his previous book dresden.
Excerpt from the berlin wall by frederick taylor, plus. On the morning of august, 1961, the residents of east berlin found themselves cut off from family, friends and jobs in the west by a tangle of barbed wire that ruthlessly cut a city of four million in two. British historian frederick taylor has produced more than a history of the wall itself. The berlin wall audiobook frederick taylor audible. No historian can read every article or book dealing with the period he. In the definitive history on the subject, frederick taylor weaves together official history, archival materials. Using official history, archive research and personal stories he has produced one of the.
Frederick taylor tells the story of the postwar political conflict that led to a divided berlin and unleashed an eastwest crisis, which lasted until the very people. The berlin wall, by frederick taylor the independent. A world divided, 19611989 by frederick taylor and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In the definitive history on the subject, frederick taylor weaves together official history, archival materials, and personal accounts to tell the complete story of the walls rise and fall. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. The berlin wall is a fascinating and brilliantly written history of the two germanys that existed side by side for 44 years, glaring at each other in mutual. He repeats that distinction in this fascinating, informative book on the berlin wall. A world divided, 19611989 9780060786144 by taylor, frederick and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Taylor begins, therefore, with the awkward, hastily improvised partition of germany and berlin after the war, and the irreconcilable differences that would make berlin a. Within days, it had started to metamorphose into a structure that would come to symbolise the brutal insanity of the cold war. It metamorphosed into a structure that would come to symbolise the insanity of the cold war.
The starting point for me is frederick taylors the berlin wall because of its masterful detailing of events leading to the walls construction and demolition. Online and instore available instore filter results. Frederick taylor has written a thorough and compelling account not only of the berlin wall circa 1961 1989 but actually gives a fantastic outline of the history of berlin from its very origins. A world divided, 19611989, frederick taylor, a british expert on germany and the author of dresden, an excellent study of the bombing of that city, reminds us how perilous those times were. Every day it existed, it screamed aloud one simple, damning statement. The berlin wall by frederick taylor, daniel philpott. But taylor s admirable book is a vivid narrative of a dangerous era. The berlin wall frederick taylor haftad 9781408802564 bokus. A world divided, 19611989 takes an indepth look at the construction, existence, and fall of germanys berlin wall. He did postgraduate work at sussex university on the rise of the extreme right in germany in the early twentieth century. During the night of 12 august 1961, a barbedwire entanglement was hastily constructed through the heart of berlin. I expected the book to start in 1960 or thereabouts, but to my surprise it started long before then.
Frederick taylor born 28 december 1947 at aylesbury, buckinghamshire is a british novelist and historian specialising in modern german history he was educated at aylesbury grammar school and read history and modern languages at oxford university. Our interview today is with frederick taylor, the author of one of my favourite books on the berlin wall. A secret history the berlin wall was a tangible symbol of the suppression of human rights by the eastern bloc during the cold war, but frederick taylor asks whether it was more convenient to the western democracies than their rhetoric suggested. Read free book excerpt from the berlin wall by frederick taylor, page 2 of 2. Since the publication of his first bestselling books, dresden tuesday february 1945 in 2004, and the berlin wall in 2007, frederick has lectured widely and appeared on expert panels, in venues as various as the hayonwye festival panel with antony beevor and a. The berlin wall by frederick taylor, 9780060786144, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The berlin wall this vivid account of the wall and all that it meant reminds us that symbolism can be doubleedged, as a potent emblem of isolation and repression became, in its destruction, an even more powerful totem of freedom. Grayling, the edinburgh book festival 2004 and 2006, the chalke valley history festival, the world war ii experience centre. See the newest novels, discuss with other book lovers, buy romance books online. The berlin wall frederick taylor james spoke with fred taylor, a historian who has written several books on germany, about his book the berlin wall 1961 1989 which will shortly be reprinted to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the fall of the wall. Taylor gets into the mindset and the culture of what it is to be a berliner.
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