Kershaw, like a searchlight, illuminates Europe’s Darkest Topic. Brilliant.

Do not be misled, this is no easy-listening, bedtime reading story. The topic is very possibly the darkest chapter in human history. But as with all his studies, Kershaw’s incisive and well-balanced research and cogent descriptions enable a clear and bright light to be shone on a very dark and heavy period of history.

Not only does this collection of essays and articles fit together as if they were originally written to do so, they clarify what most of us have known, suspected or merely heard about, and in so doing, place us in contradiction of so many modern myths. No longer is there room for Nazi apologism, nor, equally, for assumptions of the Holocaust as being a feature of some German defective DNA. This excellent work also shows that set of events in its historical, cultural, political and societal contexts, leaving the listener/reader with a well constructed narrative of monumental, academic brilliance.

It’s hard going in places, not simply because of the complexities of the piece, but also for it’s content. It will educate. It will elucidate. It will confront. But surely no-one who absorbs this book will be anything but better for the experience.

Whilst this word is an often overused superlative, in this case, the description “Masterpiece” is justified.

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