Hitler,1936-1945:Nemesis

TheNewYorkerdeclaredthefirstvolumeofIanKershaw'stwo-volumemasterpiece"asclosetodefinitiveasanythingwearelikelytosee,"andthatpromiseisfulfilledinthisstunningsecondvolume.AsNemesisopens,AdolfHitlerhasachievedabsolutepowerwithinGermanyandtriumphedinhisfirstchallengetotheEuropeanpowers.IdolizedbylargesegmentsofthepopulationandfirmlysupportedbytheNaziregime,HitlerispoisedtosubjugateEurope.Nineyearslater,hisvauntedwarmachinedestroyed,AlliedforcessweepingacrossGermany,Hitlerwillendhislifewithapistolshottohishead."[M]oreprobing,morejudicious,moreauthoritativeinitsrichdetail...morecommandinginitsmasteryofthehorrificnarrative."MiltonJ.Rosenberg,ChicagoTribune