From bestselling historian Katja Hoyer comes a gripping narrative exploring life in Weimar between 1919 and 1939, tracing the trajectory from the ambitious Weimar Republic to the rise of Hitler's regime. This book uses the ancient town of Weimar—a crucible of democracy and dictatorship—as a microcosm for the nation's descent into darkness.

Drawing on extensive new archival research, Hoyer illuminates the experiences of the people who lived through this extraordinary period, presenting an unforgettable picture of lives and choices made on the edge of catastrophe.

• Examines the town that housed thinkers like Goethe, Schiller, Liszt, and Nietzsche.
• Chronicles the period from 1919 to 1939, covering the new republic and Hitler's regime.
• Features vividly drawn characters including bookbinder Carl Weirich, hotel owners Rosa and Arthur Schmidt, and Friedrich Nietzsche's sister Elisabeth.
• Explores the dualities of Weimar: the birthplace of Bauhaus experimentation and the location where Buchenwald was established.
• Analyzes the roles of citizens as witnesses, perpetrators, victims, and bystanders during historical upheaval.

This work is recognized as a Sunday Times Bestseller and was listed among the most anticipated books of 2026 by the Sunday Times, Financial Times, and The Telegraph.

• Author: Katja Hoyer
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Print Length: 496 pages
• Publication Date: May 7, 2026
• ISBN-13: 978-0241681244
• Dimensions: 167 x 43 x 243mm
• Weight: 730g

Discover the complex history of a town that dreamt of a better world and woke up to tyranny through the eyes of its residents.