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We Were Only Human
We Were Only Human: Sketches and Text by Peter Ustinov
“Satire is a weapon, and never were people more deserving of its sting than these civil-servants in a vast ministry of horror…”
A collection of caricatures drawn by Ustinov of Nazi officials and supporters, with captions eerily familiar to statements made during the Nuremburg trials.
“Satire is a weapon, and never were people more deserving of its sting than these civil-servants in a vast ministry of horror…”
A collection of caricatures drawn by Ustinov of Nazi officials and supporters, with captions eerily familiar to statements made during the Nuremburg trials.
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1961
4 people want to read
About the author
Peter Ustinov
150 books56 followersSir Peter Alexander Ustinov, CBE, was a English actor, writer and dramatist.
He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, director, stage designer, screenwriter, comedian, humorist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter.
A noted wit and raconteur, he was, for much of his career, a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits, as well as a respected intellectual and diplomat who, in addition to his various academic posts, served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement.
Ustinov was the winner of numerous awards over his life, including Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards, as well the recipient of governmental honours from, amongst others, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. He displayed a unique cultural versatility that has frequently earned him the accolade of a Renaissance Man.
He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, director, stage designer, screenwriter, comedian, humorist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter.
A noted wit and raconteur, he was, for much of his career, a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits, as well as a respected intellectual and diplomat who, in addition to his various academic posts, served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement.
Ustinov was the winner of numerous awards over his life, including Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards, as well the recipient of governmental honours from, amongst others, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. He displayed a unique cultural versatility that has frequently earned him the accolade of a Renaissance Man.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 5, 2022
I am struggling to read anything that is not either total escapism or reflections on the war at the moment. This little book really hit the spot. You think that inexcusable cannot be excused, yet humans will always plead not guilty. But they are, they are, they are.
April 6, 2022
Caricatures of Nazi war criminals accompanied with a line or two from their trial at Nuremberg. Very nice, apt essay at the front, but definitely a "preaching to the choir" feel throughout, i.e., some of these statements really are banal and actually pretty plausible—not as excuses for guilt, but in terms of not grasping the scope of what was being perpetuated. Some, of course, are so comically backwards, you might have a hard time believing they aren't satire.
The only "satire" here, I think, is in the drawings which, frankly, while not flattering aren't particularly caustic.
EDIT: OK, maybe the text isn't real! I guess that's good satire, if you can't tell? (Or I'm just dumb.) I had thought there was plenty in the Nuremberg transcripts that you didn't need to make things up. I think I'm less impressed if they're made up, though. People's real excuses for their crimes are usually creative enough.
Interesting little artifact overall.
The only "satire" here, I think, is in the drawings which, frankly, while not flattering aren't particularly caustic.
EDIT: OK, maybe the text isn't real! I guess that's good satire, if you can't tell? (Or I'm just dumb.) I had thought there was plenty in the Nuremberg transcripts that you didn't need to make things up. I think I'm less impressed if they're made up, though. People's real excuses for their crimes are usually creative enough.
Interesting little artifact overall.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews