Berlin 1936

LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2018'Compelling, suspenseful and beautifully done' Anna Funder, author of STASILANDA captivating account of the Nazi Olympics - told through the voices and stories of those who were there.For sixteen days in the summer of 1936, the world's attention turned to the German capital as it hosted the Olympic Games. Seen through the eyes of a cast of characters - Nazi leaders and foreign diplomats, athletes and journalists, nightclub owners and jazz musicians - Berlin 1936 plunges us into the high tension of this unfolding scene.Alongside the drama in the Olympic Stadium - from the triumph of Jesse Owens to the scandal when an American tourist breaks through the security and manages to kiss Hitler - Oliver Hilmes takes us behind the scenes and into the lives of ordinary Berliners: the woman with a dark secret who steps in front of a train, the transsexual waiting for the Gestapo's knock on the door, and the Jewish boy hoping that Germany may lose in the sporting arena. During the sporting events the dictatorship was partially put on hold; here then, is a last glimpse of the vibrant and diverse life in Berlin in the 1920s and 30s that the Nazis aimed to destroy.

About the author

Oliver Hilmes studied history, politics and psychology in Paris, Marburg and Potsdam, and holds a doctorate in twentieth-century history. His books include Malevolent Muse: The Life of Alma Mahler, Cosima Wagner: The Lady of Bayreuth and Franz Liszt: Musician, Celebrity, Superstar. Berlin 1936 was a top-ten bestseller on publication in Germany.

Report

Engrossing Matt Chilton, **Books of the Year** Daily Telegraph

Product details

• Authors: Oliver Hilmes, Hilmes Oliver
• Assisted by: Jefferson Chase (Translation)
• Publisher: Vintage UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 06.06.2019
• EAN: 9781784705428
• ISBN: 978-1-78470-542-8
• No. of pages: 320
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book; Non-fiction book > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Berlin, Germany, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, SPORTS & RECREATION / Olympics & Paralympics, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Fascism & Nazism, Social and cultural history, Far-right political ideologies and movements, c 1919 to c 1939 (Inter-war period), c 1918 to c 1939 (Inter-war period), Olympic & Paralympic games, Olympic and Paralympic games, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / General