TITLE: German: Biography of a Language

AUTHOR:  Ruth H. Sanders

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DESCRIPTION:

"Thousands of years ago, seafront clans in Denmark began speaking the earliest form of Germanic language--the first of six "signal events" that Ruth Sanders highlights in this marvelous history of the German language.

Blending linguistic, anthropological, and historical research, Sanders presents a brilliant biography of the language as it evolved across the millennia. She sheds light on the influence of such events as the bloody three-day Battle of Kalkriese, which permanently halted the incursion of both the Romans and the Latin language into northern Europe, and the publication of Martin Luther's German Bible translation, a "People's" Bible which in effect forged from a dozen spoken dialects a single German language. The narrative ranges through the turbulent Middle Ages, the spread of the printing press, the formation of the nineteenth-century German Empire which united the German-speaking territories north of the Alps, and Germany's twentieth-century military and cultural horrors. The book also covers topics such as the Gothic language (now extinct), the vast expansion of Germanic tribes during the Roman era, the role of the Vikings in spreading the Norse language, the branching off of Yiddish, the lasting impact of the Thirty Years War on the German psyche, the revolution of 1848, and much more.

Ranging from prehistoric times to modern, post-war Germany, this engaging volume offers a fascinating account of the evolution of a major European language as well as a unique look at the history of the German people. It will appeal to everyone interested in German language, culture, or history."

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REVIEW:

Interesting and informative, but too repetitive.

Oktoberfest is an important segment of Bavarian culture and it is held in Munich, Germany for 16 to 18 days at the fairgrounds often called Wiesn, or the Theresa Meadows. The festival of the Bavarian rural folks has been celebrated since 1810, and you could participate this year by donning a traditional Oktoberfest dirndl.

This simple dress is the soul of the women's representation in the celebrations and you can purchase one from a store that has its roots in Germany. Otherwise you can order a dirndl dress online which will either be imported from Bavaria or handmade by experts of traditional German clothing crafts.

This simple peasant dress is so famous that people from all over throng online to order them so they can attend the Munich Festival. If you are a foreigner, checking the authenticity of the source from where you are getting it is very important. You can check whether the German outfit you are ordering has all the traditional folk elements attached to the dirndl dress.

Choose from colorful dirndl dresses with an apron and blouse, and pick the length of dress that suits you best. A traditional German dirndl is called a midi, which sits right below the knee. The other two options are mini and full length.

Mini dirndls are more popular with the younger generations attending Oktoberfest. Whatever type you choose it is important that you wear a traditional dirndl outfit to fully immerse yourself into the rich culture that Germany and the Oktoberfest has to offer.

Clara Falkenberg was handed the reins to her family's ironworks empire in Germany during World War II.  As the War ends, Clara flees the ironworks and takes the alias of a secretary that had worked there, Margarete Muller.  Two years later, Clara desperately wants to find the best friend she left behind, Elisa Sieland.  As Clara heads back home, her cover is blown by British Officer Fenshaw who wants Clara to pay for her war crimes.  Clara escapes Fenshaw's grasp only to find Elisa's home destroyed.  In her search for Elisa, Clara connects with Jakob.  Jakob is now a black marketeer who has lost a leg in the war.  Jakob is also in search of Elisa since he stumbled into  a mine shaft with a young soldier named WIlly Sieland who is guarding a stockpile of German supplies and believes that the war is still raging.  Clara and Jakob form an alliance to find Elisa and help Willy, but Fenshaw has not let up on his quest to capture The Iron Fraulein.

The German Heiress is a unique look into post World War II Germany and the many layers and situations that the German people faced in the aftermath of the war.  Clara is a very well-developed and intense character.  For the entire story, she is struggling with her identity as well as her morality for what happened at the factory during the war.  The German government gave Clara the moniker of the Iron Fraulein, which is a name she tried to run from; however, it is Clara's iron will that helps her through the toughest of obstacles. Other than the suspense of Clara constantly being on the cusp of capture by Fenshaw, I found Clara's internal moral fight the most intriguing. I was absorbed as Clara fought with herself in trying to decide whether or not she did enough for the people forced to work for her.  Willy's character also surprised me, Willy's mental health is fragile and his secret the most explosive.  Through Willy, I was able to see the influence of propaganda and the Jungvolk. The writing transported me to the bleak, destroyed landscape of Essen, Germany.  Home were demolished, landscapes were changed and food scarce, but the people found a way to carry on.  This book took me a little while to get into as Clara's character developed and some of her secrets are revealed as this happened, I was pulled deeper into her and Jakob's quest as well as the cat-and-mouse game with Fenshaw.  The ending is surprising and shows the hope that post World War II Germany kept. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

This book is fascinating and sad, but it's so not what I need right now. Since I am over the half-way mark, I will finish reading and get it off Mt. TBR, but I think the book will suffer from hitting me up at the wrong time.

by Luisa Weiss

This cookbook is in many ways like a travel experience with beautiful color pictures of Germany as well as some of the foods made from the recipes. The introduction gives a good flavor of Germany and is followed by explanation of many of the ingredients specific to Germany, including the different fat content of butter from Europe to that of the US (I'm still trying to find out where England falls on the spectrum) and the use of Baker's Ammonia instead of baking powder as a raising agent and the difference in texture that results.

There are recipes for sweet and savoury foods that have measurements in both weight and volume for an international audience. They are made clear and easily adaptable for people from different countries to try. I'm especially interested in some of the cookies and was pleasantly surprised to find some made with cardamom, which I've found in Scandinavian cookies before.

Overall this book feels like a trip to Germany and an experience of typical fare, including savory tarts and wonderful breads. It's one of the best cookbooks I've seen for experiencing a specific country and I'm very tempted to get a hard copy!