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Book Review of In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
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Helpful Score: 1


A somewhat ordinary college professor become the American ambassador to Germany just as Hitler is coming to power. He was chosen because so many others refused the post.

To Ambassador Dodd's credit, he soon loses his naivety and recognizes Hitler and the Nazis for what they are. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department club of Ivy League 'rich boys' club are doing all they can to get him dismissed as they favor Hitler and his anti-semitism.

Dobb becomes a thorn in the side of the Nazis and American isolationists. However, his randy daughter is having affairs with all sorts of interesting characters, including the head of the German Gestapo and a Russian NKVD operative. Go figure.

An interesting tale of Americans in Hitler's early years.