A hundred years ago, many theorists believed-just as they did at the beginning of our twenty-first century-that the world had reached a state of economic perfection, a never before seen human interdependence that would lead to universal growth and prosperity. Then, as now, the German mark was one of the most trusted currencies in the world. Yet the early years of the Weimar Republic in Germany witnessed the most calamitous meltdown of a developed economy in modern times. The Downfall of Money will tell anew the dramatic story of the hyperinflation that saw the mark-worth 4.2 to the dollar in 1914-plunge until it traded at over 4 trillion to 1 by the autumn of 1923. The story of the Weimar Republic's financial crisis clearly resonates today, when the world is again anxious about what money is, what it means, and how we can judge if its value is true. It is a trajectory of events uncomfortably relevant for our own uncertain world. Frederick Taylor-one of the leading historians of Germany writing today- explores the causes of the crisis and what the collapse meant to ordinary people and traces its connection to the dark decades that followed. Drawing on a wide range of sources and accessibly presenting vast amounts of research, The Downfall of Money is a timely and chilling exploration of a haunting episode in history.

Product Description: This text contains the personal experiences of a professional horse dealer in the nineteenth-century. Including anecdotal tales on his life and career, as well as a wealth of insightful and valuable information on all aspects of horse breeding, management and dealing, this is a text that will be of much value to all manner of equestrians...read more

One morning in 1961, the residents of East Berlin found themselves cut off from family, friends and jobs in the West by a tangle of barbed wire that ruthlessly cut a city of four million in two. Within days the barbed wire became a 103-mile-long wall guarded by three hundred watchtowers. A physical manifestation of the Cold War that would stand for nearly thirty years, the Berlin Wall was the fault line between East and West on which rested the fate of all humanity. Historian Taylor weaves together official history, archival materials and personal accounts to tell the complete story of the Wall's rise and fall, from the postwar political tensions that created a divided Berlin to the internal and external pressures that led to the Wall's demise. He also explores the geopolitical ramifications, as well as the impact the Wall had on ordinary lives, still felt today.--From publisher description.A history of the 103-mile wall between East and West Germany describes its representation of the struggle between Soviet communism and American capitalism, the internal and external pressures that led to its dismantling, and the wall's geopolitical ramifications.

Presents the drama of Cold War nuclear poker that divided humanity.

Product Description: Whatever happened to Sacagawea's son? His mother became a legend. But the infant boy who also made the hazardous 1,900-mile journey to Oregon with the Lewis and Clark Expedition nearly disappeared from sight after their return. Yet he lived a long, adventurous life...read more

Product Description: Months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Michael Blessed is down on his luck after losing his job and weathering a divorce. Then comes a phone call - a friend has a job for him translating an expose of corruption in East Germany...read more