Germania: In Wayward Pursuit of the Germans and Their History

As a person who reads a bunch of history, it's ultimately the books that don't remain too serious about their subject matter, while still representing it in a factual way, that stand out. On this count, Simon Winder is at the top of my non-fiction-author heap at the moment, having pulled off a book that's so expansive (covering much of the German speaking world, for around two millennia), so detailed in it way (by Winder's only description, the place we think of as 'Germany' was until about 150 years ago an agglomeration of hundreds of tiny principalities), and so unbelievably funny (on more than one occasion while reading in bed I laughed so hard that I woke up my wife, much to my regret...) that I flew through it almost too fast. It's a rare beast of a non-fiction, history-ish book that you wish, upon finishing it, that you had another 500 pages or so to go. Well, here it is! I'll bottom line it: if you have even the slightest interest in Germany or things German, or European history, grab this right now. You won't regret it. (Oh, and I should note: if you're looking for a dry listing of historical events, in order, by region, with outcomes of battles and population charts for cities of the Hanseatic League, look elsewhere. Perhaps you'd be better served by some manner of college level textbook?)

The author makes the history of Germany, as viewed also from personal travel, extremely interesting.The book is very descriptive and often I reach for google to see pictures of towns, landscapes, cages that held the condemned, boring or not so boring musea, and artwork. Often the author manages to sweep the conversation back to the Nazi era, partially seeing the onset of some of the Nazi strains with that era as an almost logical conclusion. In my mind the book should have had plenty of pictures, and some good references and footnotes. Otherwise: highly recommended.

If you're a history buff you'll love this author. If you're interested in art, or architecture, or music or food, you'll love this author. But even if none of these subjects are particularly interesting to you, you'll love this author. He is insightful and hilarious. A word of caution though. Set aside plenty of time to read, because once you start, this book is very hard to put down.

Simon Winder possesses a storehouse of knowledge on the castles, landscape, music, art, museums, nobility, and military history of the landmass taken up by present day Austria and Germany--and uses a shotgun approach in scattering this idiosyncratic knowledge across pages of this text. Mr. Winder's highly personal observations are sometimes useful, many times obscure, funny at times, but when taken as a whole, confusing rather than edifying.Unfortunately, the complex and lengthy history of Germany and its people does not lend itself to a sustained comical treatment, especially that of an Englishman (who does not speak German) apparently attempting to write nearly every paragraph in a pale imitation of the style favored by the American humorist P. J. O'Rourke. By the middle of this over-the-top book, I was struggling to finish. (I am sure a German would be struggling not to load his Luger and go author hunting.)As an aside, I have been to Berlin, where I thought the Berlin Cathedral was not, as claimed by Mr. Winder, a "truly awful historicist stoneyard." And, in Vienna, I was once in the area around St. Stephen's, not viewing it then as the author does as "one of those terrible tourist zones."

I asked for and received this book for Christmas a few years ago. I was under the impression at that time that it was a light hearted look at things German. I could not have been more wrong. As an American I have only been there six times, not nearly as often as the author who must be looking for other body parts to count upon having long ago used all his fingers and toes. This just seems to be a cranky Englishman who has nothing better to do then find fault with everything German.The author spends over 400 pages finding fault with everything German in Germany and Austria. Most passages begin with some sort of positive reference regarding a town or forest, a castle, something or some place, and then the balance of the narrative is spent tearing it down or pointing out how futile and pathetic it all seems to the author. One of his pet topics is bashing old family castles and the German nobility that went with them. He seems to relish pointing out that Schloss XYZ-burg was the family home of the Duke of XYZ and the only thing he ever accomplished was to get killed/lose a war/have 16 illegitimate children – take your pick. I guess our English author has never been to ABC-shire in Jolly Old England where you will find the Manor House of the 11th Baronet of ABC-shire whose claim to fame is a hall of pictures of ancestors who fought for the Roundheads/Cavaliers/had 16 illegitimate children. While chastising Germany for the plethora of nobles it once had he forgets England is still filled with all sorts of nobles from Sir So-and-So of Something-shire to Prince Charles. Unlike Germany, the UK still has a branch of government devoted to nobles – the House of Lords. So let’s not forget: “Those who live in glass houses…“ The book seems to be written by an English Germanophobe specifically for Germanophobes. So, if you would like to spend your time reading 440 some pages of a bashing of Germany this is the book for you.One last caveat: he has a book called Danubia which I also got that Christmas. I fully expect it will be loaded up with complaints about every country along the Danube.

Who knew our stoic and often humor impaired European friends, and even relatives, could speak in such light hearted and self-effacing words? For all its reputation as a country of experts, perfectionists, and seldom-wrong folks, this is a refreshing take on a country peopled with just.....people. I truly enjoyed this book and have shared it with Inga, Hans, Gerhard, and my daughter who is a very funny half German, half Scot woman. I recommend this book as light reading, perhaps before going to bed. Barb (the Scot)

Have read this twice now. Really, a fabulous book. Want to understand the essential German spirit? Understand where these magnificent people come from? Read this book. Winder is also one of the funniest people I have ever read. His sardonic wit skewers the Germans at every turn even while he admires their indominatable spirit. Anyone going to Germany needs to read this book.