The narratives by John of Plano Carpini and William of Rubruck of their journeys to Mongolia in the middle of the thirteenth century differ from the majority of works in this series. The authors were not canonized saints or beati; and their travels were not missionary journeys in the strict sense; but were more of the nature of political embassies. Nevertheless; they were servants of Christendom as few men have been. They give a first-hand authentic account of the first contact between Western Christendom and the Far East; and this at the moment when the whole oriental world from Korea to Hungary was being turned upside down and remade by one of the greatest catastrophes in the history of the world.
#658249 in Books William L Shirer 2002-04-17Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.65 x 6.00l; 1.90 #File Name: 0801870569648 pagesBerlin Diary The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934 1941
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Page-turning historyBy Peter RosierA most enjoyable and interesting read. It put into context for me; and provided real insight into the years during which Hitler's Army seemed invulnerable and gave great insight (having been written; as it were; from behind enemy lines) into the lies and deception that enabled him to build that great army air force and navy and then deploy it; in a piece-meal but strategically significant way. Seems strange to say it; but it was almost a page-turner!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Blitzkrieg! What I didn't know! What they didn't know! What you don't know?By GreyFoxThis period was before my time. The final entry in this journal was made six months and a day before I was born. The only thing I actually remember about the war was playing on the beach in Florida while my father was on shore leave. The only thing I actually knew about the war was that "Daddy works on a boat."Until recently; I had insufficient interest in the period to really study about it. I studied as required in school. I saw replays of news reels. I saw documentaries and movies. I heard about the devastating German army blitzing across Europe.Boy! Did they miss the mark!Only recently have I become interested in the period because of people even older than myself recalling similarities between those times and today.This is eye witness testimony. The witness is honest enough to tell you that he is not always sure what is going on and that everything he is being told is a lie; everything he is being shown is a lie; and that he is not allowed to broadcast the truth on the radio.As a child; my father always told me; "Never believe anything you hear; anything you read in the paper; and only half of what you see with your own eyes." I believe that Mr. Shirer explains the origin of that admonition very nicely.The journal covers the years 1934 through 1940. As I was reading the final 1940 entry I was thinking "Now we are ready for Pearl Harbor and the US entry into the war."I turned the page and was greeted with the "NOTES" section. I thought OH-no. It can't end here. But it did.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Day by day account of German people and the world manipulated and deceived by HitlerBy JOHNI read Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich over 40 years ago. I found his "Berlin Diary" a spell binding and enlightening day by day account of the steps the Nazis took and the steps the rest of the world took; or did not take or were afraid to take. It was an eye opening revelation of how a person such as Hitler played on the fears and aspirations of German people; particularly during the 2016 presidential campaign. I hoped that the parallels I thought I saw were not there.
