Past Is Myself

Rating:
Summary: In Hell
Review: "The Past is Myself" is the story of an Englishwoman who married a German then went to live with him and raise a family in Nazi Germany.

It is often a moving account, giving glimpses of German life of the time. Quite how much Christabel Bielenberg's views provide an accurate picture of the everyday lives of the majority of German people must be open to doubt, as the Bielenbergs were well-off and moved within the higher reaches of professional society. Intellectual analysis as well as moral outrage formed the basis of their resistance to the regime. And I doubt whether the majority of Germans could have afforded to escape the bombing by moving to the Black Forest.

This is not to disparage Christabel Bielenberg's account, or the heroism of those who resisted, whatever their place in society. The horrors of the regime were felt at a highly personal level - Christabel's husband Peter being imprisoned for a lengthly period, and some of her friends were executed after the July plot. Terrible choices had to be made, such as whether or not to give shelter to a Jewish family.

The book is an episodic account, telling in depth of major incidents rather than being a straightforward "family history". It benefits from that, as she is able to recall emotions and impressions with more detail than would otherwise be the case.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Story of real life drama.
Review: I am so sorry this book is not available. It is a fasinating story of a woman's ability to survive and keep her family in tact in WW II Germany. I met Mrs. Bielenberg a few years ago and she is still as interesting as she was in her book.

Rating:
Summary: A thumping good read - I couldn't put it down!
Review: I read this book a few years ago, when living in the United Kingdom, and wanted to recommend this book to my Book Club in the USA for our next discussion. What a disappointment to find it is out of print, as this is one of the most readable and insightful autobiographies I have read! Dear Amazon team, please campaign for it to be reissued!

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am surprised that nobody has reviewed it and I am also dissapointed to find out that it is not available to buy at the moment. I read it a few years ago and when I get the time, I will definitely read it again. Once you start you can not stop and it is a book you will remember for the rest of your life. Read it!