The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
William L. Shirer
📚 Genre
Non-Fiction - History - 20th Century History - World War II
🏢 Publisher
Simon and Schuster
📅 Publication Year
1960
🔢 ISBN
Not visible on spine; ISBN-13: 978-0671624200 (commonly associated with later reprints/paperbacks, original 1960 edition pre-dates ISBN system)
About This Book
A comprehensive historical chronicle of Nazi Germany from its birth in 1920 to its collapse in 1945, written by an American journalist who witnessed many of the events firsthand as a foreign correspondent in Berlin. The visible spine shows the classic tan cloth binding with a black rectangular title block featuring white serif lettering, accompanied by small iron cross/decorative cross symbols and the Simon and Schuster publisher imprint at the bottom.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
1245
Edition
First Edition, Hardcover with dust jacket
Series
Standalone work
Target Audience
General Audience and Adult History Readers
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good. The spine shows notable fading, discoloration, edge fraying at the head and tail, and light overall shelf wear typical of a vintage mid-20th-century hardcover. The cloth texture remains visible, but the tan background shows soil and age toning.
Estimated Value
$20-$60
Rarity
Common. While it is a first edition from 1960, Simon and Schuster printed massive quantities due to immediate and overwhelming commercial success. Copies are frequently found in the used book market, though finding a first edition in pristine condition with an intact dust jacket increases value significantly.
Historical Significance
Widely regarded as a monumental and pioneering work of popular history on Nazi Germany. It won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 1961 and has remained one of the most widely read and influential historical accounts of the Hitler regime, despite some modern historiographical criticisms regarding its scope and reliance on captured German documents.
Collector Notes
Key points for collectibility include the presence and condition of the original pictorial dust jacket (which greatly amplifies value), absence of ex-library stamps, and clean unclipped endpapers. Store upright in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the tan cloth spine. Value for standard reading copies remains relatively stable and modest due to high initial print numbers.
Similar Books
The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich Trilogy by Richard J. Evans, Inside the Third Reich by Albert Speer, Shirer's Berlin Diary by William L. Shirer
Notable Features
First edition indicator (typically denoted by no subsequent printing notices on the copyright page inside), historical firsthand perspective by journalist William L. Shirer.