Germany in the Modern World

Book excerpt: With a careful blend of concision and rich detail, Sam A. Mustafa's readable and lively text traces German history from Roman times to the present, placing particular emphasis on the past three centuries. Mustafa provides a judicious mix of narrative history and historiography, tracing the influential individuals and broad social currents, myths and legends, and political and cultural elements that have shaped the country. In addition, the book is unique in bringing the story fully to the present with a chapter on the past twenty years that explores the nation's reunification and its struggles with history and memory. All those with an interest in Germany will find Germany in the Modern World an engaging and rewarding read.