Thomas Harding Books

In the early 1800s Lehmann Gluckstein and his family escaped the pogroms of Eastern Europe and made their way to Whitechapel in the East End of London. There, starting with nothing, they worked tirelessly to pull themselves out of poverty, creating a small tobacco factory that quickly grew to become the largest catering company in the world: J. Lyons. For over a century, Lyons was everywhere. Its restaurants and corner houses were on every high street, its coffee and tea in every cup, its products in every home. By bringing the world to the British people, the company transformed the way we eat, drink and are entertained - democratising luxury and globalising our tastes. But it was a victory that was not easily won - a story of the virtue of hard work, perseverance and an indomitable spirit in the face of repeated obstacles: poverty, hatred and injustice. It is a tale that is rarely told, of an immigrant family's journey from rags to riches: the story of the British Dream. Legacy charts the rise and fall of one of the most influential dynasties in British history through the lives of five astonishing generations, bound together by an unbreakable code. This is a sweeping yet intimate work of history, filled with stories of sacrifice and selflessness, betrayal and personal tragedy, Empire and its cost, and success on an unimaginable scale

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE JQ WINGATE PRIZE 2015 SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD 'A gripping thriller, an unspeakable crime, an essential history.' JOHN LE CARR Hanns Alexander was the son of a prosperous German family who fled Berlin for London in the 1930s. Rudolf H ss was a farmer and soldier who became the Kommandant of Auschwitz Concentration Camp and oversaw the deaths of over a million men, women and children. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the first British War Crimes Investigation Team is assembled to hunt down the senior Nazi officials responsible for the greatest atrocities the world has ever seen. Lieutenant Hanns Alexander is one of the lead investigators, Rudolf H ss his most elusive target. In this book Thomas Harding reveals for the very first time the full account of H ss' capture. Moving from the Middle-Eastern campaigns of the First World War to bohemian Berlin in the 1920s, to the horror of the concentration camps and the trials in Belsen and Nuremberg, Hanns and Rudolf tells the story of two German men whose lives diverged, and intersected, in an astonishing way.

The story of the slave uprising that took place in the British colony of Demerara - now Guyana - in the Caribbean in 1823, and its momentous consequences

Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous century, this poignant narrative follows a small house that, after being seized by the Nazis, becomes a refuge for various families. Through their stories, the house bears silent witness to the trials and tribulations of its inhabitants, illustrating the profound impact of history on personal lives. The exquisite illustrations enhance the emotional depth of this moving tale, offering a unique perspective on resilience and the passage of time.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD 2015 LONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 2016 A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK âe~A passionate memoir.âe(tm) Neil MacGregor âe~A superb portrait of twentieth century Germany seen through the prism of a house which was lived in, and lost, by five different families. A remarkable book.âe(tm) Tom Holland âe~Personal and panoramic, heart-wrenching yet uplifting, this is history at its most alive.âe(tm) A.D. Miller In 2013, Thomas Harding returned to his grandmotherâe(tm)s house on the outskirts of Berlin which she had been forced to leave when the Nazis swept to power. What was once her âe~soul placeâe(tm) now stood empty and derelict. A concrete footpath cut through the garden, marking where the Berlin Wall had stood for nearly three decades. In a bid to save the house from demolition, Thomas began to unearth the history of the five families who had lived there: a nobleman farmer, a prosperous Jewish family, a renowned Nazi composer, a widow and her children and a Stasi informant. Discovering stories of domestic joy and contentment, of terrible grief and tragedy, and of a hatred handed down through the generations, a history of twentieth century Germany and the story of a nation emerged.

Focusing on a renowned publisher, the narrative explores how he revolutionized the publishing industry and influenced the broader culture of ideas. It delves into his innovative approaches and the profound impact he had on literature and intellectual discourse, showcasing his role in shaping contemporary thought and the dissemination of knowledge. Through engaging storytelling, the book highlights the intersection of publishing, creativity, and cultural evolution, offering insights into the power of ideas in society.

The captivating story of the famed publisher who transformed not only publishing but the culture of ideas, from his struggles as an Austrian-Jewish refugee in London to his rise as a world-renowned literary figure

Set in Amsterdam, a house with a green door serves as a silent witness to four centuries of human experience, encompassing themes of love, despair, and resilience. It has hosted vibrant lives and endured periods of emptiness and sorrow, notably during wartime persecution. The last resident, Anne Frank, documented her experiences in a diary, transforming the house into a symbol of hope. Lyrical text and beautifully crafted mixed-media illustrations bring the house's history to life, reflecting its profound impact on those who have lived and visited there.

»Thomas Harding eröffnet einen neuen Blick auf das Gift des Nazismus und einen seiner tödlichsten Vollstrecker.« The Times Thomas Harding kannte seinen Großonkel Hanns Alexander als einen freundlichen Mann mit viel Familiensinn, der ein bürgerliches Leben als Bankangestellter in London geführt hatte, sich für die Synagoge engagierte und gerne Witze machte. Seine jüdische Familie stammte aus Berlin und war in den 1930er-Jahren in letzter Minute nach England ins Exil entkommen. Das wussten alle. Ansonsten wurde über den Krieg nicht gesprochen. Erst nach dem Tod von Hanns Alexander erfuhr Harding, dass er ein Nazi-Jäger gewesen war. Er hatte Rudolf Höss, den nach Kriegsende untergetauchten Kommandanten von Auschwitz, in seinem Versteck auf einem Bauernhof in Norddeutschland aufgespürt und so dafür gesorgt, dass ihm der Prozess gemacht wurde.

Thomas Harding kannte seinen Großonkel Hanns Alexander als einen freundlichen Mann mit viel Familiensinn, der ein bürgerliches Leben als Bankangestellter in London geführt hatte, sich für die Synagoge engagierte und gerne Witze machte. Seine jüdische Familie stammte aus Berlin und war in den 1930er-Jahren in letzter Minute nach England ins Exil entkommen. Das wussten alle. Ansonsten wurde über den Krieg nicht gesprochen. Erst nach dem Tod von Hanns Alexander erfuhr Harding, dass er ein Nazijäger gewesen war. Er hatte Rudolf Höss, den nach Kriegsende untergetauchten Kommandanten von Auschwitz, im Alleingang in seinem Versteck auf einem Bauernhof in Norddeutschland aufgespürt und so dafür gesorgt, dass ihm der Prozess gemacht wurde. 1947 wird Höss im früheren KZ-Auschwitz hingerichtet.