Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2002)

Starred Review Hitler's cold eyes stare out from the cover photograph of this excellent biography. Much of the book centers on Hitler's early years and rise to power after the First World War, with emphasis on the complicity or, in some cases, naivete of the German political leaders and industrialists. It also covers the failed appeasement efforts of the British and French in pre-World War II months. Giblin moves beyond political events and delves into the twisted realms of Hitler's strangely contradictory personality, with anecdotes about Hitler's love of dogs, his relationships with women, and his vegetarianism. Giblin wisely avoids cataloging all the battles and events of World War II and keeps the focus on Hitler's personal reaction to these events and his final crazed days in his Berlin bunker. The last chapter deals with contemporary neo-Nazi movements throughout the world. Interspersed with the text are fascinating period photographs. Source notes are provided for each chapter, and the author includes a short informal essay, explaining why he wrote the book and what sources were particularly helpful.

Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In this accomplished biography, Giblin (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Charles Lindbergh) presents the rise and fall of "the most dangerous—and ultimately the most destructive—twentieth-century dictator." The author begins with Hitler's birth and modest upbringing in Austria and failed artistic aspirations, and follows his years as a WWI soldier and his budding abilities as a political orator (an army superior noted, chillingly, "Herr Hitler is a born people's speaker.... He clearly compels the attention of his listeners, and makes them think his way"). The compelling narrative then traces Hitler's gradual accumulation of power, including his early political associations with the Nazi Party, a failed 1923 coup attempt and subsequent imprisonment (where he penned his plans for political domination and the annihilation of European Jews in <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Mein Kampf). This insightful historical overview describes the social, political and economic conditions that proved ripe for the dictator's ascent, as it outlines Hitler's life and career, including his iron grip on his adopted "Fatherland" and his commitment to <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Lebensraum (or additional "living space" for Germany)—which triggered the series of invasions that pushed the world into another war. Abundant primary source quotes and well-researched photographs enliven this comprehensive volume. A closing chapter describes the rise of neo-Nazism both in the U.S. and abroad. Giblin offers an absorbing portrait of an enigmatic leader who loved dogs and opera but could also order the extermination of millions of innocent people. Ages 10-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Apr.)

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

Giblin offers a straightforward if somewhat distant account of Hitler's life from his youth to his last, desperate days in the bunker. This book focuses on his wartime role as Führer seeking domination of the European continent and features detailed accounts of specific military victories and defeats. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, the volume is well documented with chapter-by-chapter source notes. Bib., glos., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

Opening with an overview of dictators through history, Giblin ( The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin , 2000, etc.), always a graceful, unemotional stylist, traces the life and actions of the leader of "the thousand year Reich" in a straightforward and lucid manner. His narrative explores three basic questions: "What sort of man could plan and carry out such horrendous schemes? How was he able to win support for his deadly ventures? And why did no one try to stop him until it was almost too late?" Citing Adolf's middle-class childhood, he looks beyond the standard labels of barbarian, savage, or mad man. (These qualities might provide excuse for his political acts: crimes against humanity, genocide, and a world destroyed.) Completing the history of the rise and fall of Germany, the Nazis, Hitler, and his cronies, Giblin follows with information about modern Nazi followers: skinheads, white power groups, Aryan nation members, and the like. The study cries out for much better maps; places like the Rhineland, Sudentenland, the Ruhr, to name a few, are mentioned in the text but not set in their geography—necessary in a time when young people seem to have little knowledge of the globe and its places and peoples. The rest of the illustrations are well chosen in this exemplary twin biography of a man and modern history. In a time when people, young and old, are unaware or have forgotten that people like Hitler, his nation of followers, and his high command existed, Giblin's carefully researched account is more important than ever. It is so readable that it should hold younger readers and educate older ones who may need their brains refilled with the facts of history. An essential purchase. (Nonfiction. 11-15)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-The most complete and successful biography of the F hrer available for this audience. It takes courage to write fairly about the person who perpetuated almost certainly the most suffering and misery in the 20th century, and Giblin accepts this mantle and bears it nobly. This "extraordinary villain who promised to restore his nation's honor and dignity" began life very much as an average person. His subsequent transformation into brilliant politician and then cruel war leader and finally humiliated vanquished tyrant is presented seamlessly and realistically. The first chapter establishes the ground rules for the rest of the book as it sets out to explore how such "deadly ventures" happened. As the book continues, the historical perspective is superb. For example, while Giblin portrays Hitler's persecution of certain groups as severe and reprehensible, he also mentions the fact that during this time many nations and institutions, including American universities, had specific anti-Semitic policies. The last chapter, entitled "Hitler Lives," shows how some people to this day are attempting to perpetuate the man's legacy and beliefs. This book maintains focus on the life of its subject-including his pets and love life-and does not, as many others do, stray into areas belonging to books specifically on the Holocaust or World War II. Good-quality photos, political cartoons, and reproductions augment the text. A biography in the truest sense, this is a terrifying must for all libraries.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.