Bestsellers of the Third Reich [Elektronische Ressource] readers, writers and the politics of literature

Despite the displacement of countless authors, frequent bans of specific titles, and high-profile book burnings, the German book industry boomed during the Nazi period. Notwithstanding the millions of copies of __Mein Kampf__ that were sold, the era’s most popular books were diverse and often surprising in retrospect, despite an oppressive ideological and cultural climate: Huxley’s __Brave New World__ was widely read in the 1930s, while Saint-Exupéry’s __Wind, Sand and Stars__ was a great success during the war years. __Bestsellers of the Third Reic__h surveys this motley collection of books, along with the circumstances of their publication, to provide an innovative new window into the history of Nazi Germany. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements for the German Edition, 2010 Acknowledgements for the English Edition List of Abbreviations Introduction. ‘Please, God, Keep Me from Writing a Book about Books!’ Part I. The Context: Cultural Politics in the Th ird Reich Chapter 1. Sifting, Destroying, Controlling and Promoting: The Politics of Literature under the Swastika Chapter 2. Bestsellers in a Dark Time: Their History and Readers Chapter 3. Hitler’s and Goebbels’ Bedtime Reading: What Prominent Nazis Liked to Read Part II. The Ten Most Successful Book Types in the Third Reich Introduction Chapter 4. On the Foundation of Facts: Popular Non-fiction Works Chapter 5. The Colour of Money: NS Propaganda Texts Chapter 6. Not So Quiet on the Western Front: The Boom of War Books Chapter 7. Laughing through Life, Jolly Volk: Humour and Comedy Chapter 8. From Medical Romance Novels to Science Fiction: The Themes and Authors of Modern Light Literature Chapter 9. Commodifying Authentic People’s Literature: Karl May, Courths-Mahler and the Heroes of Pulp Fiction Chapter 10. Foreign Narrative Fiction: Bestsellers from Abroad Chapter 11. In the Shadow of the Classics: Highbrow Literature Chapter 12. Blood without Soil: The Successes of National (Social)ist Authors Chapter 13. Field Grey Pays Dividends: Reading Fodder for Wartime Conclusion. On the Trail of Bestsellers Appendix. Selected Bestsellers and Th eir Sales Figures Bibliography Index "Despite the displacement of countless authors, frequent bans of specific titles, and high-profile book burnings, the German book industry boomed during the Nazi period. Notwithstanding the millions of copies of Mein Kampf that were sold, the era's most popular books were diverse and often surprising in retrospect, despite an oppressive ideological and cultural climate: Huxley's Brave New World was widely read in the 1930s, while Saint-Exupéry's Wind, Sand and Stars was a great success during the war years. Bestsellers of the Third Reich surveys this motley collection of books, along with the circumstances of their publication, to provide an innovative new window into the history of Nazi Germany"-- Provided by publisher

Despite the displacement of countless authors, frequent bans of specific titles, and high-profile book burnings, the German book industry boomed during the Nazi period. Notwithstanding the millions of copies of Mein Kampf that were sold, the era's most popular books were diverse and often surprising in retrospect, despite an oppressive ideological and cultural climate: Huxley's Brave New World was widely read in the 1930s, while Saint-Exupéry's Wind, Sand and Stars was a great success during the war years. Bestsellers of the Third Reic h surveys this motley collection of books, along with the circumstances of their publication, to provide an innovative new window into the history of Nazi Germany.

Christian Adam examines how books came into being under the Nazis, how they became bestsellers-sometimes against the will of the rulers-and which books were actually read. He writes the history of the bestsellers in the darkest epoch of the German past, thus opening a new perspective on the mentality of the Germans between 1933 and 1945.