Germany : memories of a nation

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Neil MacGregor offers a unique perspective on Germany's history and collective imagination in this compact hardcover edition. For the past 140 years, Germany has been a central power in continental Europe, and the emergence of a new German state 25 years ago raises questions about our understanding of this nation and its identity. MacGregor contends that, unlike other European countries, Germany lacks a coherent, overarching historical narrative due to its unstable geography and history. He begins with the fifteenth-century invention of modern printing by Gutenberg and selects various objects, ideas, people, and places that reflect Germany's collective imagination. This work presents a dramatically different view of Germany, moving beyond the typical focus on the War and the Wall to explore the country's rich and complex history. Critics praise MacGregor as a cultural polymath, with one noting that anyone seeking to understand Germany should read this book. Another highlights the dazzling history portrayed, from sausages and porcelain to the Bauhaus, emphasizing that the illustrations alone inspire a desire to visit Germany.