The Start: 1904-30

20th Century Journey #1

by William L. Shirer

夏伊勒三卷本回忆录的第一卷，另两卷是《噩梦年代：1930—1940》《旅人迟归：1945—1988》。

夏伊勒出生于世纪之交的美国中西部小镇，为了逃离那里的保守氛围，夏伊勒来到欧洲，找到了一份报社的工作。夏伊勒在伦敦报道温布尔登网球锦标赛，在巴黎报道林德伯格的跨大西洋飞 行，在日内瓦报道国际联盟的会议。作为记录者，夏伊勒见证了菲茨杰拉德夫妇、海明威、格特鲁德·斯泰因、伊莎朵拉·邓肯等人的生活片段，有时自己也置身其中。对于大洋彼岸的故事——芝加哥的地下之王、“猴子审判”、风靡全美的“肖托夸集会”、哈定时代的丑闻等等，夏伊勒也娓娓道来。一幅欧美大陆世纪初生的画卷徐徐展开。

夏伊勒三卷本回忆录的第二卷，另两卷是《世纪初生：1904—1930》《旅人迟归：1945—1988》。

面对纳粹魔鬼突然出现的严峻考验，夏伊勒受命前往柏林报道。夏伊勒亲眼见证希特勒攫取权力，横扫欧洲，在与纳粹新闻审查机制的斗争中跟踪报道了把世界拖向战争的每一次重要会议，并随德军的铁骑前往比利时、法国。文字中展现了丰富的历史细节，带有强烈的个人视角和临场感，堪称《第三帝国的兴亡》的“导演评论音轨”。

夏伊勒三卷本回忆录的第三卷，另两卷是《世纪初生：1904—1930》《噩梦年代：1930—1940》。

1940年，阔别祖国十五年的夏伊勒返回了美国，继续对战争的广播报道。冷战到来，麦卡锡主义席卷美国，夏伊勒因“左翼”倾向名列《赤色频道》刊物，由此丢掉了工作，与老友默罗反目，不得不靠写作和演讲勉强度日。写作生涯起起伏伏，《第三帝国的兴亡》又掀起了舆论的轩然大波，给美德关系制造了麻烦。随着时间流逝，旧友接连故去，夏伊勒最后一次来到欧洲故地重游，看到以前心仪的街道和美食，却有心无力，无限唏嘘。

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, American History, World War II, Biography Memoir

510 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1976

About the author

William Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist and historian. He became known for his broadcasts on CBS from the German capital of Berlin through the first year of World War II.

Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Shirer's Berlin Diary, Rise & Fall of the Third Reich, Fall of the Third Republic and Memoir of Gandhi, I was quite interested in obtaining his three volume autobiography of which this is the first volume. With all this background it is perhaps unsurprising that I enjoyed this book immensely. It is, however, the work least related to the others in that it only overlaps at its end with his experiences overseas. Much of it is about his youth and college years in the States, and, most entertainingly, how he got over to Europe upon graduating from Coe College in Iowa. The reminiscences about the Chicago Tribune's foreign desk at night are priceless and Shirer manages to convey the charm of the period and the naivete of the youth he was as he worked and drank with the bohemian Americans enjoying the life of post-war Paris. As ever, his contacts were fortuitous, many of his companions going on to fame and fortune.

[Watchdogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed 'seeing' history unfold as witnessed by a young reporter/correspondent. What I did not care for was the author's pompous attitude and belittling of historical figures that he did not approve of. I recognize that this is a memoir, but I expected a little more objectivity.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Shirer, the author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, was one of my heroes as a young person. We have had his three volume set of memoirs on our shelves since the late 70s. Hey, hey, I finally got around to reading volume one, about his childhood in Cedar Rapids, his college year at a small Iowa college and his first four years as a foreign correspondent in Paris, London, and Vienna.
I actually met Shirer at a cocktail party in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. We had as good a conversation as a shy 22 year old woman can have with a much older man until he told me his name, and I practically fell on the ground. So I was amused to read that the same thing had happened to Shirer at almost the same age, when he was introduced to Freda Kirchwey, the editor of The Nation, at a party and was, as he put it, tongue-tied.
This is a good book to read if you want to know what things were like in the early 20th century in the Midwest. When I was a journalist, I always asked people what was it like, it being whatever I was asking them about. Shirer tells the reader, quite comprehensively, what it was like.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good autobiography covering the first third of the 2oth Century through Shirer's Zelig-like existence beginning with his Chautauqua tent raising to hearing William Jennings Bryant speak to shaking President Coolidge's hand. Later as a foreign correspondent in Paris, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa rube that went to town (Chicago) gets wrapped up in the excitement of solo Atlantic crossing, including going to Lindbergh's landing, Gene Tunney's wrapped up pugilist career (Shirer did much sport writing and it opened doors) and works alongside James Thurber and F. Scott Fitzgerald and even John Gunther (always a tragic figure to me since Death Be Not Proud) while seeing through the self-worship of Gertrude Stein. A fascinating, circumspect life.

[Peter Kiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very disappointing. I came away from the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich with respect for Shirer and his writing. Now, I feel like he's undermined his own credibility as he's admitted to fabricating story after story as a journalist. Not only that, but he claimed to be protestant in Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, but he spends around half this book proclaiming to the world how much he despises Christianity and its morals as a thinly veiled way of justifying his own immoral life style, which he dresses up in his mind as the life of an "intellectual." Shirer is desperate to portray himself as very learned, and it gets old. Parts were interesting, but this was an unfortunate light being shown on someone I thought was more respectable.

[Jimbethhoward · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed comparing this book to Shirer's contemporary and fellow journalist, Muggeridge's Chronicles of Wasted Time. So similar in their early outlook and path, Muggeridge eventually left his utopian hopes behind along with his liberal views.

[Boris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirer was of a breed that doesn't exist anymore, a journalist rather than a propagandist. I've read three of his books, "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", "Berlin Diary" and "The Nightmare Years". 'Diary and 'Nightmare Years were two of the most compelling accounts I've ever read.

In this volume of his autobiography one not only learns about his early life and family but also his political views. He was a progressive as so many of the intellectual class were then and among other things despised Coolidge. Coolidge was probably the best president of the 20th century and there was a certain irony that escaped Shirer; how prosperous the Coolidge/Harding years were in America versus the glum and depressing situation in England and to a lesser degree France. Shirer was wrong on many things but his accounts as a journalist in Europe were compelling as in his other books.

The progressives were largely bored and prosperous middle class and higher intellectuals,many from the Midwest, who turned against America and American capitalism. This was the same leisure class that the economist Schumpeter said always undermine successful and prosperous societies. As a declared progressive, he made no note of the huge and lingering failures of the progressive Woodrow Wilson or Teddy Roosevelt. As a typical progressive he criticized big business while not noting that the very same vilified big business created the most prosperous society in human history.

He knew and met and interviewed many of the luminaries of the age and among other things was a witness to Charles Lindbergh's arrival in Paris in 1927, another compelling first-person account. He provided more historical background on Isadora Duncan, Helen Wills, Gertrude Ederle and writers such as the very eccentric (and in my opinion untalented) Gertrude Stein.

Another thing Shirer got wrong was the Red Scare both in Europe and in America. He suggested it was an irrational panic but the mass murder in the Soviet Union commenced with the communist takeover and there were many refugees of the Bolshevik horror, especially in Paris. If any mass "hysteria" was justified in the 20th century, it was the Red Scare.

Despite my profound disagreements with him on his political philosophy he didn't permit it to taint his reporting. This is recommended reading and I intend to reread the European reporting sections of the book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have previously read Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent 1934-1941 and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of the Nazi Germany, I knew I was in for another literary ride. This time with The Start, 1904-1930: Twentieth Century Journey Vol. I (William Shirer's Twentieth Century Journey) by William L. Shirer, the focus was mostly on the author's early life story and background growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his education, and getting started in journalism. He felt privileged when an opportunity came on for him to remain in Paris after being offered a position as a foreign correspondent under Edward R. Murrow and his CBS radio team following important stories around the European continent. He quickly became known for his ability to dig for the crucial stories of historical significance reporting from Paris, Vienna, Berlin, London, and Rome and eventually did his broadcasts directly from Berlin. While he immersed himself in European culture he also developed friendships with other notables such as Ernest Hemingway and Sinclair Lewis. His interviews and conversations with popular figures and world leaders including Adolph Hitler himself. This book allows the author to open up about how he became one of the most influential members of the press as well as a respected author.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became aware of William L. Shirer when I was in high school and read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich." It sparked a lifelong interest in World War II and specifically the Holocaust. When I entered college I cited Shirer in a paper I wrote on Nazi Germany, which brought me a strong rebuke from my Teutonic professor, who wrote that Shirer should never be used as a source because he was not a scholar. I didn't let that dampen my respect for Shirer and his work.

I had no idea that Shirer had written his memoirs until I had joined Audible and saw they were available. When I canceled my Audible subscription, I lost access to all three of the volumes that make up Shirer's memoirs, but I noticed the library has all three on audio. I decided to listen to the first volume on a lark, and I'm glad I did. Not only does Shirer provide a detailed account of his early life here, but he takes a deep dive into the things happening during his life. While my German history professor likely still holds the negative view of Shirer, this audiobook only enhances my respect for him. It will likely be some time before I start the next volume since I have other things I want to read, but I'm glad I listened to this. It was amazing.

[Clair Keizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one reads the first volume of William L. Shirer's brilliant memoir, Twentieth Century Journey: The Start, it is hard to remember that it is indeed a memoir. Shirer's telling of his life is more like a survey of American and world history of the early twentieth century. Then, he throws in a personal experience and one stops and thinks, what just happened. The beauty in this is that Shirer was present for so much of what took place in those years, witnessing the dramatic changes occurring in both the US and Europe, post World War I. As this is his memoir, Shirer is not shy in expressing his politics and his attitude toward the lack of concern for the poor, the laborers and the immigrant on both continents. This attitude didn't hinder his efforts to present the facts in his writing for the Chicago Tribune and later for CBS radio. Shirer played a remarkable role in these times reflected in the first volume of his memoirs. Be confident this this will not change in later years and the following volumes of his story.

[Caribbean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found William Shirer when browsing through Hoopla and stumbled upon The End of Berlin Diary, and then finished Berlin Diary too.
If you like The Glory and the Dream, you will definitely like this as well.
It is a history book written from the perspective of a midwesterner who grew up in Europe, and I saw the world through his eyes and history felt so real, because it is real. The 20's in Europe in particular Paris was the time of masters, and the author was thrown in the mist of James Thurber, Earnest Hemingway, Isodora Dunkan, Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, Grant Wood, Charles Lindberg, and so many more. Because of how real it all was, it didn't feel like name-dropping but more like running into a friend unexpected in his book. The stories about how James Thurber and the rest of night staff made up full reports based on a few words in telegraphs cracked me up.
Now onto "The Nightmare Years".
Highly highly recommend.

[Len Knighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Shirer was, for many Americans, their eyes and ears in the Third Reich from 1933-45. Baby boomers, like myself, learned much about Adolf Hitler and World War II through Shirer’s books.
This book is Shirer’s vehicle for telling us about himself and world events leading up to the beginning of the Reich. We read of his witnessing Lindbergh’s landing in Paris after his flight across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris in 1927; the Stock Market crash two years later, among other notable moments. We also learn of some of the memorable personalities, especially writers, who graced Shirer’s life.
Perhaps a bit lengthy but certainly worth reading, particularly if you are planning to read later books by Shirer or have already read them.

Four stars waxing

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected, unfortunately I found the most interesting parts to be the gossip about celebrities. It does give some insight in what it was like to live in the early 1900’s. For me to give a higher rating, I would have needed a more in depth analysis of the current events and less personal anecdotes.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author covers a lot of history as a journalist and drops a lot of names of prominent writers he supposedly knew personally. Unfortunately, his POV is one of an avowed atheist. He predicts the world will end in annihilation by nuclear warfare. This did not happen in his lifetime; he died in 1993.

[George Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid 5-star read. The early parts about Iowa and Chicago dragged a bit, but that likely had more to do with my interests being Europe. However, once Shirer moved to Paris, the book really took off. It really made me feel that I was there, rubbing shoulders with the literary, artistic, and public greats! A definite page turner.

[Peter Kalnin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Review of Decades of History

William Shirer gives the reader an excellent understanding of the events and society of the early 1900s. He is a magnificent raconteur who reflects the values and thoughts of people of that time.

Grover Gardner is the perfect narrator for this book.

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse into a different era, Iowa before the Second World War and the start of Shirer’s career as a journalist. Interesting reading.

[Thomas Nettleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous memoir!!

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting narrative of the first thirty years of the 20th century. How life was so different, how Shirer just struck on hos own to Europe, and al he experienced.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Never have I read an autobiography that was so indepth. A history lesson and a fascinating life loved all in one... and this only the 1st volume!

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful firsthand memoir to the early years of the modern world.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much new here.

[Leo W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating near past.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.

So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.

He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.

The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.

The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.

The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.

Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirer is known most for his famous book about the Third Reich, but reading other works of his is illuminating and satisfying just as much, and funny, this book about his early years is no exception! Of course, one thinks this is funny because one expects a level of writing suitable more to a youth of twenty something, and this is in all likelihood written later, but then again, one forgets being young is not necessarily equivalent of being unaware, and someone who grew so well could only have begun by awakening during those years he is writing about in this work.

So while one goes through a first part that does suit those early years and one's low expectations of such a youth, the second chapter zaps one awake and one begins to marvel at all the author has to tell.

He begins with his early years in Chicago, and a concise history of all that is worthy of mention about the town it then was, and there is much every which way one looks - and much one is usually not told in the usual descriptions of the history of the nation much less city, for example about the labour movements and the stiff opposition from the business and politics nexus that broke them. Then there are the various great minds he talks about, including his father, that influenced him, thinkers and authors, those early years.

The family shifted to Cedar Rapids when his father died, rather early, and he describes the new place and history thereof, along with histories of his ancestors and family, all very very interesting. And then in mid twenties post WWI he is in Paris, as described in the first part, and begins another very interesting part, what with the various writers and so forth he comes immediately into contact with, and life in Paris, and more.

The memoirs one would necessarily expect of course to become immediately far more interesting when the young man shifts to Paris, comes in contact with the great authors and others - artists, politicians, journalists, ballet divas and more - and so it does, right up to the end. It is a testimony to the author's general persona, his mind and spirit and awareness that it doesn't reduce to a catalogue of names, and that after finishing it on reflection one realises that the part prior to Paris was well balanced, not a boring prologue to the exciting bits.

The Europe theatre in this, straddled as it is between the two world wars and set mostly in Paris, London and Vienna, does remind one a good deal of the World's End series of Upton Sinclair. The sensibilities of the two works, perhaps the two authors, are far too alike in this, and one wonders if they were close in life too, or was it merely a similarity of mind and spirit of the two that shared a time frame in the world events along with interests that focus on the space very similar.

Very worth reading for anyone interested in the world events of that era, or in consciousness awakening, for that matter.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is volumne one of Shirer's autobio--he grows up in the mid-west and heads over to Europe in a cattle boat. It is pretty interesting--he is down on small mind America and hyporcrisy of prohibition. He is a poor journalist in France, wrting for an American rag about gossip and sports. They get the barest of info. For example they get football scores of each quarter and have to make up the rest!

Things start to heat up and he will eventually become a big deal, covering the early thirties right from Berlin. I like that era more, volume two, but did not mind hearing about the scandals of the Harding era. Also, some day I will visit Ceder Rapids Iowa and check out the area.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shirer's writings on his time in Nazi Germany are very interesting. This book, part of his three volume autobiography, covers an earlier period in his life. There are some interesting moments -- mostly surrounding his time as a young reporter in Paris in the 1920s -- but much of the book is an informal history about various subjects with only a slight connection to his life. Many of the best anecdotes here appear in other books of his. What makes his Nazi Germany writings so unique is his personal experience with many of the subjects. This book did not meet that standard. He would've been better off cutting half the book and not trying to create a three volume set.

[Mark Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a Shirer kick recently, and found this first volume of his autobiography at a thrift store for a dollar. He lived an amazing life as a reporter and war correspondent, and here writes about his ancestry and life up to age 26. Right after graduating college at 21 in 1925 Shirer was able to get a job as a reporter in Paris, and writes well about life there, the "Lost Generation" of American writers and drops names with abandon. I'm looking forward to finding the rest of his autobiographies.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book on history. Although Shirer does not say a great deal about himself and his personal life, you get a good incite into who he was from his opinions on the events he covers and the people he meets and becomes friends with.