Looking for a history book of cultural Germany at local bookstore.

[Grimr]

So I went to the bookstore in asking if they had any books on the complete history of Germany or perhaps a cultural history of Prussia in doing so the shop staff in their computer first came up with a history of nazi Germany.

.........................:rant:


The staff member spoke very loud in saying:

" Sure we have a book on nazi Germany about Hitler's eugenic programs and such." :fpcsucks


Needless to say I said no that was not what I was looking for because I was looking for a book about cultural Germany before the world wars.


The whole situation just pissed me off. Everytime you go to talk about the history of Germany or to just read about Germany in culture there is always someone mentioning nazi Germany.


I just can't stand the fact that when people go to talk about cultural Germany the nation itself becomes synonymous with the nazi regime.

There is so much more to Germany as a culture and nation besides that one era of history.

Ironically in the whole book superstore they had two rows of World War II history but not a single cultural history of Germany. They had many rows about nazi Germany but not a single book on cultural Germany.

It is so unfair that they do this.


:rant: Rant off.

[Shanti]

Try ancient history. Seriously, that usually works.

[Grimr]

Try ancient history. Seriously, that usually works.

I was looking for books about ancient or medieval Germany it doesn't get any more ancient than that. ;)

I was also looking for books on Prussia or the Holy Roman Empire of Germany that was time periods before both world wars.

[Shanti]

Oh and try amazon!! If they dont have it no one does!! :)

[Brightshores]

Try a few of these- these are Amazon links, but you can probably either find them at a local bookstore or take down the ISBN and get them to order it for you, if you don't want to buy online.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674005457/ref=pd_cp_b_title/102-2254512-3976142

http://www.amazon.com/Concise-History-Germany-Cambridge-Histories/dp/0521540712/sr=1-3/qid=1165936511/ref=sr_1_3/102-2254512-3976142?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0844225134/ref=pd_cp_b_title/102-2254512-3976142

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Illustrated-History-Germany-Histories/dp/0521794323/sr=1-8/qid=1165936511/ref=sr_1_8/102-2254512-3976142?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/Social-History-Germany-1648-1914/dp/0765809826/sr=1-42/qid=1165936728/ref=sr_1_42/102-2254512-3976142?ie=UTF8&s=books

[MankyCat]

It's not really that surprising that most of the books are about Nazi Germany when you ask about "cultural Germany". We are talking about mainstream bookstores that are trying to caiter to the general populace.



But, I'm sure if you mentioned specific time periods (not just pre war, but Renaissance, Medieval, or so forth) you'd have an easier time finding the info you are looking for.

[David19]

I think it's just 'cause, Nazi Germany is probably the most famous periods of Germany in history, and so will be the most popular one or the one that people are more interested in, i know it might get frustrating, but maybe just look at those links, then go back to the store, with the title (and/or the ISBN number).

Or try asking for the specific time period - e.g. ask for books on the 18th century, 17th century, etc.

That said, when i did my Holocaust module last year, my German lecturer said that some Germans, particularly among the younger ones have decided to begin a new history post-1945, and that there wasn't really anything of value before then (not saying i agree with it, but just passing along what i learned).

[Maggie]

I was looking for books about ancient or medieval Germany it doesn't get any more ancient than that. ;)

I was also looking for books on Prussia or the Holy Roman Empire of Germany that was time periods before both world wars.

You might try looking for European history, the individual German States, Germanic culture or variations thereof for the time period you are interested in. Germany as we know it now didn't exist before Bismarck and about 1860-1880.

[Grimr]

The point I was trying to make is that I was looking for ancient or older forms of Germany's history before the World Wars and I explicitly asked for this.


The fact that they had no German cultural books in stock only having World War II books to me implies that the modern world with it's conceptions is demonizing the German culture. To be frank I am sick of seeing German culture to just being strictly spoke of with the word nazi in it.

For someone to tell me that there was nothing impressive or major about German culture before World War II. obviously knows nothing about German history.

[Maggie]

The point I was trying to make is that I was looking for ancient or older forms of Germany's history before the World Wars and I explicitly asked for this.


The fact that they had no German cultural books in stock only having World War II books to me implies that the modern world with it's conceptions is demonizing the German culture. To be frank I am sick of seeing German culture to just being strictly spoke of with the word nazi in it.

For someone to tell me that there was nothing impressive or major about German culture before World War II. obviously knows nothing about German history.

No, you're missing the point. If you want books about German culture before WWII you have to be more specific. Pre WWII and post WWI you need to ask for books about the Weimar Republic. Before WWI back to about 1870 you need to ask for books about the German Empire. Before then you need to ask for books about the individual German states, such as Bavaria or Prussia, or the Holy Roman Empire a la Charlemagne, or look up Hanseatic states, etc.

Mainstream bookstores keep books in stock that are asked for by the largest number of people. Right now, since there are large numbers of people still alive who actually lived through WWII and before, that is the period that most people are interested in.

[Grimr]

No, you're missing the point. If you want books about German culture before WWII you have to be more specific. Pre WWII and post WWI you need to ask for books about the Weimar Republic. Before WWI back to about 1870 you need to ask for books about the German Empire. Before then you need to ask for books about the individual German states, such as Bavaria or Prussia, or the Holy Roman Empire a la Charlemagne, or look up Hanseatic states, etc.

Mainstream bookstores keep books in stock that are asked for by the largest number of people. Right now, since there are large numbers of people still alive who actually lived through WWII and before, that is the period that most people are interested in.


I did ask about books on the subjects of Prussia,Habsburg,and the Holy Roman Empire.

[Shanti]

I did ask about books on the subjects of Prussia,Habsburg,and the Holy Roman Empire.
I just went to Amazon.com. I searched their books with those subjects you listed, one at a time of course. And tons of books came up!! Go find what you want. Copy the name and author on a piece of paper.
go to your bookstore with you book list and ask them to order them.

Problem solved!!

[Grimr]

I just went to Amazon.com. I searched their books with those subjects you listed, one at a time of course. And tons of books came up!! Go find what you want. Copy the name and author on a piece of paper.
go to your bookstore with you book list and ask them to order them.

Problem solved!!

True.

I just got really upset about the whole World War II. dominance of the book superstore but I suppose I should expect such things since that war is popular in studies.

Perhaps I just need to show titles for now on.

[David19]

Also, 'Germany' didn't exist until the 19th century, under Bismark, so you might try names such as Prussia, or German confederation of states, etc.

Names like those might get more information.