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Editorial Reviews
Review
A Best Book of 2023, The Telegraph (United Kingdom)
#1 Best Non-Fiction Book December 2023 and January 2024 at Die Zeit, ZDF, Deutschlandfunk, and taz (Germany)
A New Yorker "Best Books of the Year We Have Read So Far"
“[A] rich, ambitious account of Germany’s improbable rise from a moral abyss to a prosperous democracy that is sometimes held up as a bulwark of stability and liberal values… [the book] remains fresh and surprising throughout, thanks in part to Trentmann’s knack for drawing on an astounding range of voices.” —Bryn Stole, The Washington Post
"Outstanding... A probing moral history."—Timothy Garton Ash, New York Review of Books
"Remarkably rich...Out of the Darkness usefully reveals the roots of [modern Germany's] ethical knots. Trentmann is still hopeful that Germans can untangle them."—New York Times Book Review
"Never dull...the moral remaking of Germany is a complicated tale...[and] a tale that Mr. Trentmann is well placed to tell... [a] vast, engrossing history." —Ian Brunskill, The Wall Street Journal
"Trentmann draws from a wide range of sources, including amateur plays and essays by schoolchildren. These lend intimacy to his portrait of a citizenry engaged in the continuous process of formulating its own views of right and wrong as it debates issues from rearmament to environmentalism." —"The Best Books We've Read in 2024 So Far," The New Yorker
"A magisterial history of Germany over the last 80 years... penetrating... thougful... [With] [f]ascinating insights on how a country of poets, philosophers, and scientists emerged from totalitarianism and genocide."—Kirkus Reviews
"Trentmann’s sweeping narrative is grounded in vivid snapshots...a penetrating and immersive look at a society attempting, if sometimes failing, to morally right itself." —Publishers Weekly
"Masterly. Frank Trentmann's wide-ranging, deeply researched, nuanced evaluation of changing German mentalities and moral challenges since the Nazi era is a tour de force."—Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler
"In this magisterial book, Frank Trentmann charts how the Germans responded to the moral responsibilities that they faced as perpetrators of a war of annihilation and of the mass murder of the European Jews. Discussing transformations in East and West Germany, Trentmann highlights the trade-offs between moral reorientation and economic reconstruction. Portrayed on a broad canvas, this is a history of post-war Germany for our crisis-ridden times."—Benjamin Ziemann, author of Hitler's Personal Prisoner: The Life of Martin Niemöller
“I could not put the book down. The way Frank Trentmann writes history, the way he brings together great and small, analysis and narrative, is wonderful.” —Bernhard Schlink, author of the international best seller The Reader
"A milestone of historical writing" —Frankfurter Rundschau
Trentmann adds another layer to the history of events: the accompanying self-reflection among the Germans, with all their contradictions, their conflicts, their insights and errors. This is original, enlightening and entertaining. We find ourselves in these pages and are amazed!" —Sueddeutsche Zeitung
"Impressive ... shows how German history can be told in a new way'" —Wolf Lepenies, Die Welt
"A great panorama." —Hamburger Abendblatt
"Compelling...a deeply serious work that moves gracefully between the moral challenges that are his central concern and the more familiar categories of politics, law and culture." —David Blackbourn, Literary Review
"Outstanding... A meticulous and well-judged account of Germany from 1942 to today [that] shows how it transformed itself from pariah nation to leader of a continent." —"Best Books of 2023," The Daily Telegraph
"Monumental... a remarkable book...[with] original and unique insights into the lived history of the Germans... [It] succeeds like no other broad overview to combine the width and depth of human voices with an overarching narrative ...stimulating, immensely rich and very readable."—Frank Biess, Sueddeutsche Zeitung
"An impressive account of how Germany built a new identity for itself after the barbaric Nazi years...terrifically insightful...This book runs to 838 pages, but barely a word is wasted. Trentmann is a skillful and unflashy storyteller with flickers of gentle irony. Echoing Tolstoy’s theory of history as the 'sum of human wills,' he aims to stitch the scraps of everyday experience into a quilt of grand narrative... [with] richness, colour and subtlety." —Oliver Moody, The Times (London)
"Excellent .... Trentmann's study marshals an immense amount of evidence in response to a single basic question: how did Germans reassert themselves as morally oriented human beings?"—The Times Literary Supplement
“Give[s] a deep insight into how Germany and its people grappled with questions of guilt and identity....navigates complex issues like self-pity, denazification, immigration, reunification and military intervention with refreshing clarity. This book couldn’t be more timely.”—BBC History Magazine, Katja Hoyer
"Frank Trentmann’s rich and brilliant Out of the Darkness traces the moral and material history of Germany since the Second World War through the lives of its people. Wonderfully readable and compelling, it introduces us to Christian peaceniks, 'red' militarists, frustrated feminists, unappreciated 'guest workers,' and a host of other unexpected and diverse Germans, illuminating the achievements and failures of the nation that emerged from the Third Reich."—Suzanne L. Marchand, Author of Porcelain: A History from the Heart of Europe and Down from Olympus
"Frank Trentmann’s enthralling account of the Germans since 1942 is rooted in a brilliant insight: that the morality Germans invoked in their struggle to make sense of their place in history was never a transcendent standard, but a malleable and contingent substance whose nature was always contested. This fascinating and compelling moral history takes us to the centre of modern Germany’s self-understanding, moving elegantly between politics, economics, culture and the private reflections of individuals." —Christopher Clark, Author of The Sleepwalkers and Revolutionary Spring
About the Author
Review:
4.6 out of 5
92.50% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars A Long Overdue Work
For a long time, 2nd and 3rd generation German emigres in the Anglophone world have been asking questions that nearly seemed unanswerable. With a verve that few could muster, historian Frank Trentmann provides light by opening doors to many formerly closed closets in the recesses of our parents' and grandparents' minds. His latest work, “Out of Darkness: The Germans, 1942-2022”, magisterially traverses eight decades of Germany’s tumultuous journey and with it, uncovers the thinking of our and our friends' families. In nearly 800 pages, Trentmann asks and answers our questions as he meticulously examines how Germany emerged from the abyss of totalitarianism and genocide to become a dominant force within the European Union.The book deftly navigates through pivotal moments, revealing the multifaceted transformation of Germany. Here are the key insights:Broad Support for Nazism: Trentmann sheds light on the uncomfortable truth that the Nazis enjoyed widespread support, even among ordinary German citizens. This support waned during the disastrous years after 1942, as the horrors of mass murder became evident.Post-War Challenges: The aftermath of World War II presented immense challenges – homelessness, starvation, and the plight of millions of German refugees expelled from former provinces and Eastern Europe. Amid this chaos, Germany grappled with collective guilt and the need for moral and material regeneration.Adenauer’s Bold Move: The author highlights Konrad Adenauer’s audacious decision to push through massive reparations to Israel and Jewish refugees. While effective in restoring Germany’s global standing, it also absolved the country from direct war reparations.Economic Miracle and Hypocrisy: Trentmann delves into the economic miracle of the 1950s and ‘60s, exploring how hard work, organization, and thrift contributed to Germany’s resurgence. He also examines how younger generations confronted their parents’ wartime hypocrisy.East Germany’s Collapse: The semi-dystopia of East Germany and its eventual collapse paved the way for reunification. Trentmann dissects the factors that led to Germany’s economic dominance within a united nation.In a thoughtful epilogue, the author acknowledges the resilience of the German people but refrains from predicting the outcome of current challenges, including rising jingoistic and anti-democratic movements, Nonetheless, Trentmann demonstrates how asking the right questions at the right time helps us all understand both ourselves as Germans, native or otherwise. Bravo, Sir.
5.0 out of 5 stars Eight Decades
Germany is deserving of our attention. After the wreckage of World War II, it has spent the last many decades facing one crisis after another. From confronting its guilt over the Holocaust to energy problems acerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And in between, the two cold-war states, the Berlin Wall, and a never ending flow of migration--whether Germans coming home after the war, guest-workers, or economic/political refugees.Professor Frank Trentmann has written an informed and interesting book on how the German have navigated the past eight decades. His attention is on social history the ordinary citizens and the many ways they tried to move ahead after the disaster that was the last world war.This is not a comprehensive history. You will not read much on the military battles that closed the war, nor on the politics among the Allied victors as they maneuvered in the post-war period. Nor will you find much on the arts and high culture within Germany since the war.While Professor Trentmann writes from the perspective of a university liberal and one who often finds fault with his fellow Germans, his book is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand present day Germany.
5.0 out of 5 stars A slice of history
Well written and informative.
5.0 out of 5 stars Germany's Nightmare
Gripping account of Germany coming out of its nightmare.
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to understand what happened post war
This book is terrific
5.0 out of 5 stars Seemed interesting approach to post-war Germany recovery
Bought the book because of TV interview of author. Have not yet started reading it because of travel.
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I thought I would be reading a chronological evolvement of the German people from 1942-2022. Instead , it was presented by topics: War and Peace, Mother Nature , Money Matter, being three of these topics. There were many insights I enjoyed but the majority of the book dwelled on subjects, like income inequality, animal rights, nuclear energy and jumped around from say 1955 to 1989. The author explained the contract between East Germany and West Germany but not having any sense of time , I could not fully understand. I got a good sense of the people in the Adenauer years and a good feel for the rise of AfD but not, for example, how the German people evolved during the Willy Brant era. (he was hardly mentioned)
5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive history of a vital time.
Thoughtful, well-written and deeply illuminating. Viewing the tiles that make up this remarkable mosaic is as interesting as the mosaic itself, seen from afar.
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Out of the Darkness: The Germans, 1942-2022
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