Oberstdorf is a beautiful village high up in the Bavarian Alps, a place where for hundreds of years ordinary people lived simple lives while history was made elsewhere. Yet even here, in the farthest corner of Germany, National Socialism sought to control not only people's lives but also their minds. By putting one village under the microscope, this book evocatively portrays the momentous period of Nazism in Germany. Why did Germans respond to Hitler in the manner that they did? How did their attitudes change as the war progressed? And when all hope was gone and their country lay in ruins, how did they pick themselves up and start again? Drawing on archive material, letters, interviews and memoirs, A Village in the Third Reich is an extraordinarily intimate portrait of Germany under Hitler, of the descent into totalitarianism and of the tragedies that befell all of those touched by Nazism. In its pages we meet the Jews who survived - and those who didn't; the Nazi mayor who tried to shield those persecuted by the regime; and a blind boy whose life was thought 'not worth living'. It is a tale of conflicting loyalties and desires, of shattered dreams, despair and destruction. But if this is primarily a tale of political tragedy, it is also one in which human resilience triumphs. These are the stories of ordinary lives at the crossroads of history.
Julia Boyd Book order
Julia Boyd is an author who delves into the lesser-known figures and events of the past with meticulous research. Her works explore archival materials from across the globe, unearthing fascinating stories that might otherwise remain forgotten. Boyd focuses on revealing the intricate lives and cultures, often through the eyes of individuals caught between different worlds. Her writing offers an engaging journey into history through carefully researched and compellingly told biographies.







- 2022
- 2022
Oberstdorf is a beautiful village high up in the Bavarian Alps, a place where for hundreds of years people lived simple lives while history was made elsewhere. Yet even here, in the southernmost corner of Germany, National Socialism sought to control not only people's lives but also their minds. Drawing on archive material, letters, interviews and memoirs, A Village in the Third Reich is an extraordinarily intimate portrait of Germany under Hitler, of the descent into totalitarianism and of the tragedies that befell all of those touched by Nazism. In its pages we meet the Jews who survived - and those who didn't; the Nazi mayor who tried to shield those persecuted by the regime; and a blind boy whose life was judged 'not worth living'. It is a tale of conflicting loyalties and desires, of shattered dreams, despair and destruction - but one in which, ultimately, human resilience triumphs. These are the stories of ordinary lives at the crossroads of history.
- 2018
Travelers in the Third Reich
- 456 pages
- 16 hours of reading
This fascinating and shocking history of the rise of the Nazis draws together a multitude of expatriate voices—even Charles Lindbergh and Samuel Beckett—into a powerful narrative charting this extraordinary phenomenon. Without the benefit of hindsight, how do you interpret what’s right in front of your eyes? The events that took place in Germany between 1919 and 1945 were dramatic and terrible, but there were also moments of confusion, of doubt—even of hope. How easy was it to know what was actually going on, to grasp the essence of National Socialism, to remain untouched by the propaganda, or predict the Holocaust? Travelers in the Third Reich is an extraordinary history of the rise of the Nazis based on fascinating first-hand accounts, drawing together a multitude of voices and stories, including politicians, musicians, diplomats, schoolchildren, communists, scholars, athletes, poets, fascists, artists, tourists, and even celebrities like Charles Lindbergh and Samuel Beckett. Their experiences create a remarkable three-dimensional picture of Germany under Hitler—one so palpable that the reader will feel, hear, even breathe the atmosphere. These are the accidental eyewitnesses to history. Disturbing, absurd, moving, and ranging from the deeply trivial to the deeply tragic, their tales give a fresh insight into the complexities of the Third Reich, its paradoxes, and its ultimate destruction.
- 2017
Bewick gleanings
being impressions from copperplates and wood blocks, engraved in the Bewick workshop
- 352 pages
- 13 hours of reading
Featuring impressions from copperplates and wood blocks, this book showcases the artistry of the Bewick workshop. It offers a high-quality reprint of the original 1886 edition, preserving the intricate engravings that highlight the craftsmanship and techniques of the time. Readers can expect a visual exploration of Bewick's legacy, reflecting both historical significance and artistic merit.
- 2017
Travellers in the Third Reich
- 506 pages
- 18 hours of reading
"Compelling" - Daily Telegraph "Fascinating" - The Spectator The events that took place in Germany between 1919 and 1945 were dramatic and terrible but there were also moments of confusion, of doubt - of hope. How easy was it to know what was actually going on, to grasp the essence of National Socialism, to remain untouched by the propaganda or predict the Holocaust? Travellers in the Third Reich is an extraordinary history of the rise of the Nazis based on fascinating first-hand accounts, drawing together a multitude of voices and stories, including students, politicians, musicians, diplomats, schoolchildren, communists, scholars, athletes, poets, journalists, fascists, artists, tourists, even celebrities like Charles Lindbergh and Samuel Beckett. Their experiences create a remarkable three dimensional picture of Germany under Hitler - one so palpable that the reader will feel, hear, even breathe the atmosphere. These are the accidental eyewitnesses to history. Disturbing, absurd, moving, and ranging from the deeply trivial to the deeply tragic, their tales give a fresh insight into the complexities of the Third Reich, its paradoxes and its ultimate destruction.
- 2012
With its fossil hunters and philosophers, diplomats, dropouts, writers and explorers, missionaries and refugees, Peking's foreign community in the early 20th century was as exotic as the city itself. Always a magnet for larger than life individuals, Peking attracted characters as diverse as Reginald Johnston (tutor to the last emperor), Bertrand Russell, Pierre Loti, Rabrindranath Tagore, Sven Hedin, Peter Fleming, Wallis Simpson and Cecil Lewis. The last great capital to remain untouched by the modern world, Peking both entranced and horrified its foreign residents. Ignoring the poverty outside their gates, they danced, played and squabbled among themselves, oblivious to the great political events that were to shape modern China unfolding around them. This is a dazzling portrait of an eclectic foreign community and of China itself.
- 1997
In the Company of My Sisters
- 160 pages
- 6 hours of reading
NATIONAL BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE BLACKBOARD NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEARLearn to love yourself in this wise, funny, insightful pocket-sized guide—the first book by a Black psychotherapist to address the issue of self-esteem in Black women’s lives.A collection of conversational narratives from a diverse range of unique voices, In the Company of My Sisters explores what it means to have self-esteem as a Black woman in the world today, confronting entrenched, internalized assumptions and offering new, empowering perspectives in their place.“I wrote this book to validate and celebrate who we are,” Boyd has said. “We have been the recipients of many distorted messages about our ethnicity and our femaleness.” With this thesis in mind, Boyd has drawn from a wealth of experience—her own and that of her “sister circle”—to take a hard and honest look at the realities and issues Black women face, and in this anthology of their stories, you can discover a new and validating pathway forward toward higher self-esteem. “Practical, hilarious, and common sense advice for self-care and self-recovery.”— Common Boundary