In the year 1933, against the backdrop of Berlin, William E. Dodd assumes the role of America's inaugural ambassador to Hitler's Germany, marking a pivotal juncture in history.
A soft-spoken professor hailing from Chicago, Dodd is accompanied by his wife, son, and vivacious daughter, Martha. Initially captivated by the lavish parties, grandeur, and the charismatic young men of the Third Reich, who fervently strive to reinstate Germany's global prominence, Martha becomes enamored with the vision of the New Germany. Her infatuations lead her through a series of affairs, including one with the surprisingly principled head of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels. However, as evidence of the persecution of Jews accumulates, supported by chilling firsthand accounts, Dodd expresses his concerns to a mostly indifferent State Department back in the United States. With growing apprehension, Dodd observes the attacks on Jews, press censorship, and the circulation of ominous new laws. As that initial year unfolds, shadows lengthen, and the Dodds are exposed to days brimming with thrill, espionage, romance, and eventually, horror. A climax of violence and murder exposes Hitler's authentic nature and unrelenting ambition.
Immersed in the tense ambiance of the era, and portraying vivid depictions of the peculiar Goring and the outwardly charming yet profoundly malevolent Goebbels, "In the Garden of Beasts" offers a riveting firsthand outlook on the unfolding events. It unveils an epoch characterized by intricate subtleties and intricate layers. The outcome is an enthralling, compulsively readable narrative that sheds light on why the world remained unaware of the grave peril posed by Hitler until the streets of Berlin and Europe were drenched in blood and consumed by terror.
