Apr 09, 2014 as christopher krebs shows in a most dangerous book. John wilson, germania key porter books 2008 a fictional account of the roman campaigns in germany in 9 ce, from the perspective of a young roman soldier. Ancient text has long and dangerous reach harvard gazette. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, is that it was a roman who did most to define and crystallize that proud german otherness.
This books title suggests the world might have been better off if germania had never turned up, but the text reveals that krebs himself doesnt feel tacituss book is dangerous or the urtext of nazi ideology or even an ethnography, but a stereotypical roman view of the outsider. Germania is an early work by tacitus circa 56120, whose greatest achievement, the annals, provides our best account of roman history. All copies of germania were lost during the middle ages, but a single, handlettered copy resurfaced at an abbey in presentday germany in 1455. Krebs traces the book, actually a tract of less than 30 pages, from the hand of roman historian tacitus to the hands of nazi leaders in the third reich. I shall continue the chain by reading about one of the terrible consequences in timothy snyders black earth. These writers, politicians, and agitators saw in tacitus account a clear history. Dec 08, 2011 the book most venerated by the ss a study analyzes the nazis slanted use of tacituss germania. In his fascinating new study, a most dangerous book, christopher b. With acrobat reader dc you can do more than just open and view pdf files its easy to add annotations to documents using a complete set of commenting tools take your pdf tools to go work on. Washington postwhen the roman historian tacitus wrote the germania, a nonetooflattering little book about the ancient germans, he could not have foreseen that centuries later the nazis would extol it as a bible and vow to resurrect germany on its grounds. Krebs author, mark ashby narrator, audible studios publisher try audible free.
The influence of tacitus germania spans 450 years, starting with german humanists in the sixteenth century and ending with the ns downfall in 1945. Cornelius tacitus, best known for his grimly disillusioned. The germania by the great roman historian tacitus is a most dangerous book, according to the thought police in the lugenpresse. The point was that germany for many centuries was but a. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, german nationalists and their coterie of militarist partisans used germania to testify to the moral superiority of the ancient germanic peoples. Christopher b krebs traces the fivehundred year history and wideranging influence of the roman historians unflattering book about the ancient germans that was eventually extolled by the nazis as a bible. Tacitus germania from the roman empire to the third reich by christopher krebs. As a stylist, tacitus is famous for his terseness, mordant wit and a prose that. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich kindle edition by krebs, christopher b download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The germania is a most dangerous book not because it fitted the frame but because it had helped to form it 22. Washington post when the roman historian tacitus wrote the germania. As christopher krebs shows in a most dangerous book. In 1954, less than a decade after the fall of the third reich, the great italianjewish historian arnaldo momigliano told an important international classical congress that cornelius tacitus brief ethnographical pamphlet on the ancient germans was among the one hundred most dangerous books ever written.
That is the question i kept in mind as i read christopher krebs a most dangerous book. Jun 12, 2011 in his fascinating new study, a most dangerous book, christopher b. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich w. In short, krebs emphasizes, tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. Amost dangerous book tacituss germania fromtheromanempiretothethirded95677202 0 adobe acrobat reader dcdownload adobe acrobat reader dc ebook pdf.
This book s title suggests the world might have been better off if germania had never turned up, but the text reveals that krebs himself doesnt feel tacitus s book is dangerous or the urtext of nazi ideology or even an ethnography, but a stereotypical roman view of the outsider. Krebs 2011, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The book most venerated by the ss taiwan, japan, spain. Krebs draws attention to another part of the explanation for germanys existence the role played by tacitus himself. How tacitus germania became the bible of german nationalism. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, london. While doing research on the humanists reception of the germania, krebs discovered that the distinguished historian and historiographer arnaldo momigliano had named tacitus work among the most dangerous books ever written. Main a most dangerous book tacitus germania from the roman empire to the third reich. Today, harvard universitys christopher krebs, author of a most dangerous book. One of the most dangerous books ever written is surely the bible, with all parts of it. Christopher b krebs traces the fivehundred year history and wideranging influence of the roman historians unflattering book about the ancient germans that.
Yet, nazis in general and himmler in particular liked it a lot, and this is what earned it a place in an imaginary tophundred list of most dangerous books ever written, established by the italian. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich. The germania, as it became to be known in modern times, did not seem dangerous to anybody for centuries, and neither does it today. The pope wanted it, montesquieu used it, and the nazis pilfered an italian nobles villa to get it. A most dangerous book tacitus germania from the roman empire to the third reich christopher b. Krebs describes the journey of the book germania from its origin in. Jul 25, 2011 but the great irony, as christopher krebs shows in a most dangerous book. A most dangerous book tacitus germania from the roman. When the roman historian tacitus wrote the germania, a nonetooflattering little book about the ancient germans, he could not have foreseen that centuries later the nazis would extol it as a bible and vow to resurrect germany on its grounds. Krebs describes the journey of the book germania from its origin in 98 a. Tacitus germania from the roman empire to the third reich every important german intellectual movement, starting with the reformation, made a fetish out of the germania madame roland in french revolution. Sep 30, 2011 today, harvard universitys christopher krebs, author of a most dangerous book. In ad 98, the roman historian cornelius tacitus 56 117 wrote a text called about the origin and mores of the germanic peoples, or germania, as it came to be called.
Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, is that it was a. I thought it a useful and informative piece, which gives the general reader a sense of how and why scholars are. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a most dangerous book. In the end the roman historian tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. Very, very true, but it depends all on the standpoint. Apr 01, 2011 my interest in christopher krebs a most dangerous book was first aroused in part because of my interest in stephen greenblatts the swerve. Krebs on the role roman historian cornelius tacitus played in defining the german people through a small volume called germania written in a. Both promise to deliver an account of the history of a famous book of antiquity. The book most venerated by the ss taiwan, japan, spain, and i. Tacitus germania, from the period of its composition during the first century ce to its apotheosis as a text naturalising nazi claims to german racial superiority during the third reich. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich by christopher b.
Germany as a nationstate began to exist with the declaration of the german empire in 1871. Germania is an early work by tacitus circa 56120, whose greatest achievement, the annals, provides our best account of roman history under such bad emperors as tiberius and nero. In a most dangerous book, christopher krebs provides a surprisingly entertaining explanation, making sense of the seemingly inexplicable. The pope wanted it, montesquieu used it, and the nazis.
The title is very preposterous in spite of the letter. Once i finished reading the actual germania, so that i could understand this one, i was able to get started. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich new york. Aug 15, 2011 a model of popular intellectual history. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich ebook written by christopher b.
But the great irony, as christopher krebs shows in a most dangerous book. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich hardcover by christopher b. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, is that it was a roman who did most to define and. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, a newly published study by harvard classicist christopher b. Christopher krebs book takes a look at the way another has been used and misused over time. Washington post when the roman historian tacitus wrote the germania, a nonetooflattering little book about the ancient germans, he could not have foreseen that centuries later the nazis would extol it as a bible and vow to resurrect germany on its grounds. The book most venerated by the ss a study analyzes the nazis slanted use of tacituss germania. Isbn 9780393062656 through the course of 250 pages, christopher krebs ambitiously. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich, by christopher b. The riveting story of the germania and its incarnations and exploitations through the ages. A most dangerous book deals with a short and sober ethnographic description written almost two thousand years ago by the roman historian cornelius tacitus.
As a stylist, tacitus is famous for his terseness, mordant wit and a prose that can be both poetically dense and grandly magnificent. Krebs draws attention to another part of the explanation for germanys existence the role played by tacitus himself, through the influence of a small volume called germania. In every way, a most dangerous book is a most brilliant achievement. Think of it as an ancient exercise in social anthropology. Share on twitter share on facebook share on linkedin. Described by two prominent twentieth century leftist academics as one of the most dangerous books ever written, roman historian tacituss 98 ad work germania is credited with almost singlehandedly creating modern german nationalism after the manuscripts rediscovery in 1462 originally titled on the origin and situation of the. Because of its influence on the ideologies of pangermanism and nordicism, jewishitalian historian arnaldo momigliano in 1956 described germania and the iliad as among the most dangerous books ever written.
The title is very preposterous in spite of the letter a. The story of how a pamphlet of observations of ancient germany, written by the roman tacitus, over almost 2 millennia ago was reinterpreted through the ages helped shape nazi racial policy. Tacitus s germania from the roman empire to the third reich by christopher b. A most dangerous book is a most brilliant achievement. Krebs is a young academic, but he has produced a model of popular intellectual. When tacitus wrote a notveryflattering little book about the ancient germans in 98 ce, at the height of the roman empire, he could not have foreseen that the. A most dangerous book is an interesting academic study on the development of racial thought in germany. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a most dangerous book.
Isbn 9780393062656 through the course of 250 pages, christopher krebs ambitiously attempts to trace the intellectual history and reception over two. Tacitus description of the history and culture of the ancient germanic tribes living outside the control of the roman empire has become a kind of ethnologic bible in germany and everybody knows that the germans cant be allowed to have a sense of national pride and. Tacituss germania from the roman empire to the third reich 2011, trumpets momiglianos view of the ancient texts insidious nature to the applause of academic peers, literary critics, and journalists. Washington post when the roman historian tacitus wrote the germania, a nonetooflattering little book about the ancient germans, he could not have foreseen that centuries later the nazis would extol. In 1956, jewish historian arnaldo momigliano, professor at university college, london, described germania as among the most dangerous books ever written, and in 2008, professor christopher krebs, assistant professor of classics at harvard produced a separate book on the topic called a most dangerous book. Krebs, a classics professor at harvard, explores the background behind tacitus most cited work, germania, a history of the german tribes from the perspective of the roman empire, written around the turn.