Life after Death: Approaches to a Cultural and Social History of Europe During the 1940s and 1950s

Publications of the German Historical Institute

by Richard Bessel (Editor), Dirk Schumann (Editor)

This collection of essays does not perceive the impressive economic and political stability of the postwar era as a quasi-natural return to previous patterns of societal development. It approaches this stability as an attempt to establish "normality" upon the lingering memories of experiencing violence on an unprecedented scale. While the history of post-war Germany looms large in this collection, the essays cover countries across Western and Central Europe. They offer comparative perspectives and draw upon a wide range of primary and secondary source material.

Genres: History

376 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 1999

About the author

Richard Bessel is Professor of Twentieth Century History. He works on the social and political history of modern Germany, the aftermath of the two world wars and the history of policing. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of German History and History Today.

He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies.

Reviews

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a fuller and more real perspective of life in Europe during the reconstruction. Very good.