In one concise volume, Hagen Schulze brilliantly conveys the full sweep of German history, from the days of the Romans to the fall of the Berlin Wall. A story two thousand years in the making, it rings with battle, murmurs with intrigue, and hums with the music of everyday life. This richly various legacy, often overshadowed and distorted by the nation's recent past, offers a hopeful answer to the perennial question of what kind of country Germany is and will be. Elegantly written and lavishly illustrated, Germany: A New History will prove indispensable to our understanding of Germany, past and present, and the future of Europe. "Throughout this accessible survey of German history—which is punctuated by splendidly reproduced works of art—the author focuses on a key question: 'Who are the Germans?' His answer ... sets this book apart from other general histories." —John E. Pluenneke, Business Week "[Schulze] marches briskly through the centuries to produce a highly engaging, compact volume that shouldn't scare off general readers ... He has produced a lucid primer that is a valuable addition to a field crowded with dense, specialized volumes." —Andrew Nagobski, Washington Post Book World