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A Good German: A Biography of Adam von Trott Zu Solz
A Good A Biography of Adam von Trott Zu Solz by Giles MacDonogh.
358 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
21 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Giles MacDonogh
22 books40 followersGiles MacDonogh (born 1955) is a British writer, historian and translator.
MacDonogh has worked as a journalist, most notably for the Financial Times (1988–2003), where he covered food, drink and a variety of other subjects. He has also contributed to most of the other important British newspapers, and is a regular contributor to the Times . As an historian, MacDonogh concentrates on central Europe, principally Germany.
He was educated at the City of London School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he read modern history. He later carried out historical research at the École pratique des hautes études in Paris.
MacDonogh is the author of fourteen books, chiefly about German history; he has also written about gastronomy and wine. In 1988 he won a Glenfiddich Special Award for his first book, A Palate in Revolution (Robin Clark) and was shortlisted for the André Simon Award. His books have been translated into French, Italian, Bulgarian, German, Chinese, Slovakian, Spanish, Russian and Polish.
Reviewing 1938: Hitler’s Gamble in Spectator Magazine , Graham Stewart said: "Giles MacDonogh has repeatedly shown himself to be in the front rank of British scholars of German history. The depth of his human understanding, the judiciousness of his pickings from source material and the quality of his writing make this book at once gripping and grave."
MacDonogh has worked as a journalist, most notably for the Financial Times (1988–2003), where he covered food, drink and a variety of other subjects. He has also contributed to most of the other important British newspapers, and is a regular contributor to the Times . As an historian, MacDonogh concentrates on central Europe, principally Germany.
He was educated at the City of London School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he read modern history. He later carried out historical research at the École pratique des hautes études in Paris.
MacDonogh is the author of fourteen books, chiefly about German history; he has also written about gastronomy and wine. In 1988 he won a Glenfiddich Special Award for his first book, A Palate in Revolution (Robin Clark) and was shortlisted for the André Simon Award. His books have been translated into French, Italian, Bulgarian, German, Chinese, Slovakian, Spanish, Russian and Polish.
Reviewing 1938: Hitler’s Gamble in Spectator Magazine , Graham Stewart said: "Giles MacDonogh has repeatedly shown himself to be in the front rank of British scholars of German history. The depth of his human understanding, the judiciousness of his pickings from source material and the quality of his writing make this book at once gripping and grave."
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 3, 2013
Adam von Trott zu Stolz, the Good German of the title, was a fascinating character. A socialist at Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, he abhorred Hitler, but saw himself as a German patriot. As the thirties wore on he became closer to the conspirators in the army, the Abwehr and the Foreign Service who were plotting to get remove Hitler. He did his bit, by trying to open up lines of communication with leading Britons, including the Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax and the Prime Minsiter, Neville Chamberlain.
So far, so noble. But Giles MacDonagh points out the weaknesses of Trott. His arrogance, his vanity, the way he seemed to exasperate many of those he was trying to befriend.
But his heart was in the right place and there is no doubt that he was a brave man trying to do right. Which was why, in the end (1944) he was executed, like most of the other "good Germans" who tried to get rid of Hitler.
So far, so noble. But Giles MacDonagh points out the weaknesses of Trott. His arrogance, his vanity, the way he seemed to exasperate many of those he was trying to befriend.
But his heart was in the right place and there is no doubt that he was a brave man trying to do right. Which was why, in the end (1944) he was executed, like most of the other "good Germans" who tried to get rid of Hitler.
September 25, 2025
A bit disappointing. So many people to remember with Trott often a secondary player in the drama. Nevertheless, there is compelling insight that makes the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler more intriguing than meets the eye. The book certainly inspires me to see the movie VALKYRIE starring Tom Cruise again.
I am very disappointed that no pictures were included in the book. Without any direct evidence, I assume there are at least two reasons for this. First, it is probably more expensive to publish a book with pictures than without them. Second, most readers in the 21st Century have cell phones and therefore can Google the characters from the book and see pictures of them. One prime example is Claus von Stauffenberg, the key player in the failed July 20 assassination attempt of Hitler. If one googles him, a picture will be found in the Wikipedia biography. Ironically, the picture is of Stauffenberg without his eye patch, which he wore after losing his left eye, right hand and two fingers of his left hand in military action in 1943.
The book's intensity increases as we draw closer to the final chapter, 1944, and the execution of the plot. The definitive word is execution because we read more about the arrests and executions than we do about the events of July 20.
I read the Kindle edition of this book and that, perhaps, is the reason for the odd construction of many sentences and punctuation. It is a long book made longer by the deciphering of the writing.
Three stars waxing
I am very disappointed that no pictures were included in the book. Without any direct evidence, I assume there are at least two reasons for this. First, it is probably more expensive to publish a book with pictures than without them. Second, most readers in the 21st Century have cell phones and therefore can Google the characters from the book and see pictures of them. One prime example is Claus von Stauffenberg, the key player in the failed July 20 assassination attempt of Hitler. If one googles him, a picture will be found in the Wikipedia biography. Ironically, the picture is of Stauffenberg without his eye patch, which he wore after losing his left eye, right hand and two fingers of his left hand in military action in 1943.
The book's intensity increases as we draw closer to the final chapter, 1944, and the execution of the plot. The definitive word is execution because we read more about the arrests and executions than we do about the events of July 20.
I read the Kindle edition of this book and that, perhaps, is the reason for the odd construction of many sentences and punctuation. It is a long book made longer by the deciphering of the writing.
Three stars waxing
March 14, 2025
A good reminder, that during Hitlers reign there was a large Group of resistors struggling to restore Germanys honour and nobility.
September 27, 2016
Fascinating account of an Anglophile German who charmed elevated social circles in both Britain and Germany before immersing himself into anti-Nazi activities.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews