Heinrich Himmler : A Life
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Review
Excellent ... well crafted and engaging ... comfortably surpassing the offerings of previous biographers, it is surely set to become the definitive work for a generation. (Roger Moorhouse, BBC History )
supremely enlightening (New York Times Book Review )
There have been many attempts to describe the life and opinions of Heinrich Himmler, but this one ... is the first thorough scholarly biography to appear (New Statesman )
very well documented (Mail on Sunday )
A superbly researched account (Booklist )
a work of staggering scholarship (Literary Review )
splendid (Sunday Telegraph )
A masterpiece. (Richard J. Evans )
A highly impressive biography, resting on exhaustive exploration of available sources. (Ian Kershaw )
Gigantic book (The Sunday Times )
Splendid...Longerich gives it a depth and breadth it has previously lacked. (Sunday Telegraph )
supremely enlightening (New York Times Book Review )
There have been many attempts to describe the life and opinions of Heinrich Himmler, but this one ... is the first thorough scholarly biography to appear (New Statesman )
very well documented (Mail on Sunday )
A superbly researched account (Booklist )
a work of staggering scholarship (Literary Review )
splendid (Sunday Telegraph )
A masterpiece. (Richard J. Evans )
A highly impressive biography, resting on exhaustive exploration of available sources. (Ian Kershaw )
Gigantic book (The Sunday Times )
Splendid...Longerich gives it a depth and breadth it has previously lacked. (Sunday Telegraph )
Review
Excellent ... well crafted and engaging ... comfortably surpassing the offerings of previous biographers, it is surely set to become the definitive work for a generation. Roger Moorhouse, BBC History supremely enlightening New York Times Book Review There have been many attempts to describe the life and opinions of Heinrich Himmler, but this one ... is the first thorough scholarly biography to appear New Statesman very well documented Mail on Sunday A superbly researched account Booklist a work of staggering scholarship Literary Review splendid Sunday Telegraph A masterpiece. Richard J. Evans A highly impressive biography, resting on exhaustive exploration of available sources. Ian Kershaw Gigantic book The Sunday Times Splendid...Longerich gives it a depth and breadth it has previously lacked. Sunday Telegraph
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a big book for scholarly study. It is not an easy read, and it is crammed with facts and very detailed information about the organisation of the SS, the Gestapo, the German Police, and about Himmler's rise and acquisition of more and more power within the Third Reich, yet it sometimes skirts over significant events (like the faked attack at Gleiwitz which precipitated the invasion of Poland). Himmler comes across as a boring sycophantic little pedant - albeit extremely powerful and exceptionally evil, with a pathological hatred of Bolshevism and Jews (which he equated together as the joint evils of the World responsible for the War). It is claimed he was a great organiser, but he spent much of his time organising and re-organising his evil empire with the intention of maintaining and augmenting his own sphere of power, not to make his organisation more efficient. None of his so-called resettlement plans came to anything, and his warped world view condemned millions to death, whilst he showed himself to be a coward by attempting to secure an armistice with the Allies on the Western Front to save his own skin when Germany's fate was sealed. Overall, a well researched and impressive biography about this bizarre little man who became the greatest mass murderer in history. A must read for scholars of Third Reich history. Helpful additional reading "The Himmler Brothers" by Katrin Himmler - this gives a more personal view of Himmler.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This detailed, lengthy, well researched and scholarly book on the life of the architect of Hitler's SS elite is by no means a quick or easy read. It is aimed squarely at readers with an interest in the history of the Third Reich and is not perhaps best suited to the casual reader. It is detailed and intricate at times and some prior knowledge of characters, incidents and situated referred to is assumed.
That said the book is very well written and an entertaining read. At times it does get bogged down in details, so it seems to me, particularly in the early section which draws very heavily on Himmler's juvenile diary from which it quotes extensively and in detail.
Also, this is very much a political biography and we seldom see much of Himmler as a man, husband or father.
This is book has academic gravitas to it and and I am happy to accept the factual accuracy of everything within it, not a thing that can be said of very many works on the Nazi period. If you have the time and inclination to devote to a detailed and scholarly biography aimed more at professional historians than the the general reader then you will not be disappointed. This is a serious biography of one of the most feared,loathed and influential figures of the twentieth century and deserves serious study.
The Good
Masses of information and detail
Well written
Has an air of academic authority
The Bad
Overly immersed in details at times
Gives little insight into the private man
Not suited to the casual reader
That said the book is very well written and an entertaining read. At times it does get bogged down in details, so it seems to me, particularly in the early section which draws very heavily on Himmler's juvenile diary from which it quotes extensively and in detail.
Also, this is very much a political biography and we seldom see much of Himmler as a man, husband or father.
This is book has academic gravitas to it and and I am happy to accept the factual accuracy of everything within it, not a thing that can be said of very many works on the Nazi period. If you have the time and inclination to devote to a detailed and scholarly biography aimed more at professional historians than the the general reader then you will not be disappointed. This is a serious biography of one of the most feared,loathed and influential figures of the twentieth century and deserves serious study.
The Good
Masses of information and detail
Well written
Has an air of academic authority
The Bad
Overly immersed in details at times
Gives little insight into the private man
Not suited to the casual reader
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read this book I confess I was a bit disappointed with it. There is no doubt the book is an impressive scholarly feat and is very detailed but the narrative doesn't flow particularly well and at times it feels more like a text book from which I could get lots of facts to produce an essay. It also feels at times Himmler takes a back seat to the cataloguing of the atrocities yes of course he is responsible for these but I feel more on the man than the consequences of his action (hideous as of course they are) would be more appropriate for this book.
I feel I am still waiting for the definitive biography of this important historical figure.
I feel I am still waiting for the definitive biography of this important historical figure.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Evil That Men Do
Heinrich Himmler served briefly in the German army in the First World War but failed in his two main objectives to see action and become an officer which he believed was his true... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Neutral
Great addition...
...to the already detailed amount of biographies focusing on Himmler.
It is extremely well researched, although an interesting read I would not recommend it for those... Read more
It is extremely well researched, although an interesting read I would not recommend it for those... Read more
Published 4 months ago by NinjAndy
It's a book....
It's a book, hardcover and lots of pages....! Was what hubby wanted for Xmas, so does what it says on the cover. Job done, lol xx
Published 5 months ago by Mrs C
A commendable biography
Longerich gives us a detailed account of the life of a confused and somewhat weird person. The book is extremely detailed and very well sourced, and at times becomes immersed in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by leerog
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