The definitive history of Weimar politics, culture, and society
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
A Financial Times Best Book of the Year
Thoroughly up-to-date, skillfully written, and strikingly illustrated,
Weimar Germany brings to life an era of unmatched creativity in the
twentieth century--one whose influence and inspiration still resonate
today. Eric Weitz has written the authoritative history that this
fascinating and complex period deserves, and he illuminates the uniquely
progressive achievements and even greater promise of the Weimar
Republic. Weitz reveals how Germans rose from the turbulence and defeat
of World War I and revolution to forge democratic institutions and make
Berlin a world capital of avant-garde art. He explores the period's
groundbreaking cultural creativity, from architecture and theater, to
the new field of "sexology"--and presents richly detailed portraits of
some of the Weimar's greatest figures. Weimar Germany also shows that
beneath this glossy veneer lay political turmoil that ultimately led to
the demise of the republic and the rise of the radical Right. Yet for
decades after, the Weimar period continued to powerfully influence
contemporary art, urban design, and intellectual life--from Tokyo to
Ankara, and Brasilia to New York. Featuring a new preface, this
comprehensive and compelling book demonstrates why Weimar is an example
of all that is liberating and all that can go wrong in a democracy.
