The Power of Emotions: A History of Germany from 1900 to the Present

This book explores the emotional worlds of the German people, revealing how emotions have shaped and influenced individuals, societies, and institutions. It examines twenty essential and powerful emotions, such as anger, grief, hate, love, pride, shame, and trust, and how they colored major events and developments from the German Empire to the Federal Republic. It also highlights the historical power of emotions as much as their own historicity, such as the enthusiasm for the war in 1914 and the pride in the national football team in 2006.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Emotions have played a significant role in shaping history, and this book delves into the emotional landscapes of the German people throughout the twentieth century. Author Ute Frevert explores how emotions have influenced individuals, societies, and political movements. She examines twenty essential and powerful emotions, such as anger, grief, hate, love, pride, shame, and trust, and how they colored major events and developments from the German Empire to the Federal Republic.

Emotions also have their own history, demonstrated by the changing forms, meanings, and atmosphere of various emotions in twentieth-century Germany. For example, hate was a driving force behind National Socialism but is out of place in a democracy. Around 1900, people associated practices with love or nostalgia that do not resonate with us today. This book showcases the historical power of emotions as much as their own historicity.

Frevert's engaging analysis reveals how emotions have shaped individuals and societies, influencing political decisions, social movements, and cultural expressions. She demonstrates how emotions can unite people and divide them, and how they can be used to manipulate public opinion. Through her exploration of these emotions, Frevert provides a fresh perspective on twentieth-century German history, challenging traditional narratives and offering a more nuanced understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of the past.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009376839