Tag Archives: Hitler

For Holocaust Remembrance Day: Bear Witness

On May 27, 1942, a desperate and isolated Victor Klemperer, feeling the vice of Nazi terror closing in around him, helpless to stop it, declared in his journal: “I shall go on writing. That is my heroism. I will bear … Continue reading

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2017 Books Read

I got into a good rhythm with reading this year. I did a lot of re-reading, going back to books I haven’t read in 20 years or whatever. It was fun, like a reunion with an old friend. Much of … Continue reading

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The Books: I Will Bear Witness: 1942-1945, by Victor Klemperer

Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is I Will Bear Witness 1942-1945: A Diary of the Nazi Years, by Victor Klemperer Volume II of Victor Klemperer’s extraordinary journal (volume I here). The screws tighten inexorably, and … Continue reading

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The Books: I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941, by Victor Klemperer

Daily Book Excerpt: Memoirs: Next book on the Memoir/Letters/Journals shelf is I Will Bear Witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, 1933-1941, by Victor Klemperer The journals (there are three volumes in all) are written by a Jewish man, an … Continue reading

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Today In History: September 1, 1939

Germany invaded Poland, 70 years ago today. From Newsweek: Scenes from the invasion of Poland From MSN: Friends, foes, mark WWII’s start in Poland Hitler’s speech on Sept. 1, 1939, from Berlin: To the defense forces: The Polish nation refused … Continue reading

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Hitler’s marginalia (or, to quote Eddie Izzard: “I can’t paint this tree right … I must kill everyone in the world!!”)

Marginalia is one of my favorite literary topics – and although when I buy a second-hand book, I make sure that nobody has marked it up beforehand (too distracting) – I do find studies of marginalia to be extremely interesting: … Continue reading

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Today in history: September 1, 1939

Germany invaded Poland. Hitler’s speech on Sept. 1, 1939, from Berlin: To the defense forces: The Polish nation refused my efforts for a peaceful regulation of neighborly relations; instead it has appealed to weapons. Germans in Poland are persecuted with … Continue reading

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The Books: “Hopeful Monsters” (Nicholas Mosley)

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: This will be my fourth excerpt from Hopeful Monsters, by Nicholas Mosley. First excerpt Second excerpt Third excerpt Max takes over the narrative in Chapter 4. He and Eleanor have met, and then he went … Continue reading

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The Books: “Hopeful Monsters” (Nicholas Mosley)

Daily Book Excerpt: Adult fiction: This will be my third excerpt from Hopeful Monsters, by Nicholas Mosley. First excerpt Second excerpt It’s been a couple years since I’ve read Hopeful Monsters and I’m really enjoying leafing through the book, reminding … Continue reading

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The Creepy Mitford Sisters

I’ve always been a bit fascinated by the semi-creepy Mitford family (that is, if I’m guessing right, Nancy, Unity, Decca and Diana. The only one I am not sure about is the one whose head is the highest. That is … Continue reading

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