In the Garden of Beasts

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson is a non-fiction book published in 2011. It recounts the early years of Germany's Nazi regime from the perspective of the American ambassador, William Dodd, and his family. In Berlin, the family watches with growing horror as Hitler increases his dictatorial control over Germany, rearms the country in preparation for war, and conducts a national campaign of violent abuse against German Jews.

At first, Ambassador William Dodd is more concerned about trimming wasteful embassy spending and getting Germany to pay its old war debts, but soon he realizes that the real problem is Hitler and the Nazis. Their brutality violates the rules of civil governance, and their rearming of Germany flies in the face of international treaties. Signs of a coming war are everywhere, but few in America will listen to Dodd’s warnings.

Caught in a world where they can speak about, but not influence, events, the Dodds spend their time attending lavish diplomatic functions, enjoying late-night parties, and living in a luxurious mansion. Daughter Martha, an adventurous young woman, joins Berlin’s social whirl, discusses politics with famous correspondents, and dates powerful government officials.