Ken R. (robear61) reviewed on 9/6/2011 + 3 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 8

Larson is the king of weaving two or more historical stories into a fascinating narrative. Even though his books are non-fiction, they read closer to a novel than a historical document. In the Garden gives us the background of the Nazi's rise to power and the life and interaction of the American Ambassador and his family. As Ambassador Dodd is a man out of the element, Larson seems to struggle to give us a compelling story. A great deal of time is spent on the "wildish" daughter of the Ambassador and just plain name dropping. Larsen's earlier works have more character and a broader feel. In the Garden has its moments, but it finally feels more like a romance than a true historical narrative.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details