Berlin: A Century of Change/Die Gesichter Des Jahrhunderts

Rating:
Summary: A Journey Through 100 Years of Triumph and Tragedy!
Review: The history of the city of Berlin is perhaps the most interesting and tragic history of any capital city in Europe. Alexandra Richie, in her epic 'Faust's Metropolis: A History of Berlin,' gives her readers and extensive history of this great city. From it's birth to reunification, Berlin's sad pattern of always being in a "state of becoming, rather than being," is illustrated in great detail. Many times over the course of her history- Berlin has found herself in ruin. No other century was as disasterous for Berlin as the 20th century.

In 'Berlin: A Century of Change,' the reader is taken on an incredible journey of a city that at one moment was the mightest in Europe and the next was a wasteland of rubble. The reader is taken on a journey, from the celebrations of the marriage of the Kaiser's daughter in Potsdamer Platz to the views of the bombed out Reichstag, to the new architecture arising in post-Cold War Berlin.

The photos are extensive and beautifully illustrated. There are many photos from all the major events over the course of the century. The Imperial troops returning home in defeat following WWI peace. The massive Nazi parade grounds and Unter den Linden transformed into a Nazi show piece. Many arial photos of the hollow shell of the bombed out city following defeat in WWII! The massive crowds outside the Reichstag during the Berlin Blockade. This book has it all and is a wonderful pictorial exhibit of how vastly Berlin has changed in the 20th century. After visting Berlin last May, I have no doubt that the 21st century will see her emerge (finally) as the greatest city in Europe.

For further photographic books on Berlin, I would highly recommend Profitlich's 'Berlin Images.' This book is full of beautiful black and white photos of many of the great and beautiful buildings in Berlin.

For further information on the new architecture sweeping Berlin, I would highly recommend Kieren and Gottlieb Hempel's 'New Architecture Berlin, 1990-2000.' This book has tons of photos, descriptions and locations (including bus, U, and S lines) on the wave of new architecture that has swept Berlin over the past 10 years. Excellent book!

I would also highly recommend Foster and Jenkin's 'Rebuilding the Reichstag.' An awesome book on the history of the Reichstag, including tons of illustrations of past and present design competitions. As well, this book presents the history of the building from it's Imperial days, to ruin, to the modern dome. This book really illustrates how important the Reichstag is. It's not just a building- it's Berlin. What has happened to the Reichstag has happened to Berlin.

Lastly, for a historical text on Berlin- I would highly recommend Alexandra's 'Faust's Metropolis: A History of Berlin.' While it is quite thick (900+ pages), it is well written and extensive in covering every facet of Berlin's history- from politics to music, art, and literature.

If you have an interest in Berlin- the books mentioned here are essential and all available on Amazon.com.