John Lukacs' book (US edition of which libels David Irving*) is now on sale in the U.K.
[* See legal file ... Watch this site for next developments!]

The Hitler of History John Lukacs • UK List Price: £14.00 US List Price: $14.00 • Our Price: £7.79 You Save: £6.21

Category(ies): History, Biography Paperback - 320 pages (November 1998) Vintage Books; ISBN: 0375701133

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 10,924 Avg. Customer Rating: [4 out of 5 stars] ; Number of Reviews: 7 ------

Customer Comments

Average Customer Rating: [4 out of 5 stars] Number of Reviews: 7

A reader from Miami, FL, USA , 14 April, 1999 [5 out of 5 stars] The Man of the Century • John Lukacs has written a brilliant, scholarly and authoritative masterpiece about the historical aspect of the central figure of the twentieth century. Lukcas artfully and at times eruditely strips away the superfical impression we have of Hitler as a madman who mirco-managed his generals, knew nothing of U.S. industrial power and was self assured, even to the end the Third Reich would win the war to show none of these impressions are true.

He has removed Hitler from the shadows and under the cold hard light of historical analysis given him a human dimension that is even more chilling and frightening than anything we've imagined before.

A reader from United States , 30 March, 1999 [2 out of 5 stars] Hitler vs. Stalin • It's clear that Lukacs is propagating a conventional view of Hitler, without incorporating new revelations from Soviet Archives, and basing most of his analysis on previous Hitler biographies rather than ground-breaking research. This book impressed me as being merely a collection of opinions and counter-opinions. Lukacs' critique of David Irving is most interesting: Irving is now charging Lukacs with libel because of it, and it may be elucidating for any reader to see David Irving's responses to Lukacs, posted on the internet. Most striking is Lukacs' conventional comments on Soviet intentions regarding an offensive against Germany and Western Europe: He completely discounts that this could ever have been an intention, which in my opinion discredits this book's worth as scholarship, given that contemporary research into Soviet Archives has resulted in a hot debate on this matter. It would be instructive for the public to read another reputable opinion on this matter as well:

[email protected] from Montreal, Canada , 5 March, 1999 [5 out of 5 stars] One of the best Hitler books around Lukacs provides a very well researched work which furthermore is well-written and interesting. He provides an accurate and questioning portrait of Hitler which neither deifies or demonises him. His assessments of controversial topics further enhance the book's readability. He even questions (quite accurately) to what extent Hitler himself believed in the myth of the "Jewish Race" which he used in his propaganda. All in all a good read and well worth it. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title

[email protected] from Melbourne. Australia , 19 January, 1999 [2 out of 5 stars] Unfair and unbalanced • After reading biographies of Hitler for the past 20 years, I looked forward to reading this book as I wanted an overview of this massive collection of works. It was not to be.

Lukacs is very set in his ways and often passes off his views as fact. Toland is dismissed - even though his biography is a best seller - as being hard to read. A surprise for anyone who has read Toland's work.

He then tries to link Toland with David Irving, even though they have nothing in common. He also points out that Toland has some bizarre views on Pearl Harbour, and says this indicates an authoritarian bent and that Toland admires Hitler, and so does the Nazi apologist Irving. I re-read Toland's work and I found it to be a well written biography of Hitler and I really cannot understand Lukacs' conclusion that he is an admirer.

Fest's work - which he likes far more - is difficult to read and yet receives no such attack. The fact is that Lukacs does not like Toland's work and has thrown every bit of mud that he can at him.

Further he basically ignores the work of Konrad Heiden before the war and the huge debt that Bullock had to the writer in his biography. Yet Bullock is praised for his efforts.

Finally his virtual silence on Bracher is a real fault of the book. Bracher provides a far more cohesive argument for the rise of Hitler than Fest - in my opinion - and he is barely mentioned.

Behind a facade of historical accuracy, Lukacs likes what he likes and is unfair to those he does not.

A reader from Cleveland Ohio , 17 November, 1998 [4 out of 5 stars] Very interesting review of interpretations of Hitler

I enjoyed this book as a work of historiography more than of one of history. Lukacs does an excellent job showing how the "biases" of different historians and the material to which they have access have a critical impact on how they interpret their subjects. Lukacs is quite even-handed, to the point of showing how even the generally-repudiated "friends-of-Hitler" type historians do bring something to the table -- certainly exaggerated but still having a kernel of truth. Lukacs is also an excellent writer. The book is well-organized and never boring. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title

A reader from Rochester , 5 April, 1998 [5 out of 5 stars] Superb analysis of Hitler's charisma I found this the most important book I have read about the Third Reich.The author is very critical which makes it great reading.Lukacs is correct in his analysis of Hitler's biographies that it would be much too simplistic to label this man as an antichrist,criminal or lunatic.The Germans accepted him because everything that was proposed seemed so real.This book is an immediate classic and should be read by anyone but particularly the baby -boom generation to which I belong. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title

[email protected] from New York , 3 January, 1998 [5 out of 5 stars] The Antichrist? This is not a biography, but rather a review of the historiography of Hitler since the end of World War II--an attempt to see Hitler in the context of the 20th Century rather than as a supra-historical machiavel. As such, Lukacs flatly says Hitler was the single most influential figure of the 20th Century--the Man of the Century. He makes a convincing case. Perhaps most intriguing, Lukacs not once, but twice suggests that Hitler may have been the AntiChrist. Quoting from Revelation, he points out that the AntiChrist would not appear as a devil, but as an ordinary man. It is a chilling thought, particularly as I read Joachim Fest's 1973 biography, whose perceptions heavily influenced Lukacs's perspective. An extremely provocative read. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this title.