The essential introduction to the age of dictators (1919-39) covering the often ignored countries of Eastern Europe, Italy, Weimar Germany, Britain, France, Spain & Nazi Germany. The author is a popular authority on this period. He's written over 17 books. 'Professor Kitchen is altogether a shrewd, clear, balanced & often witty guide.'--The Times Educational Supplement
Martin Kitchen is a British-Canadian historian, specialized in modern European history, with an emphasis on Germany. Professor Emeritus of history at Simon Fraser University, he started teaching in 1966. He also taught at the Cambridge Group for Population Studies (Cambridge University).
Kitchen is kind of a pain in the ass to read, but he tells you exactly where he stands, and how he feels. I picture him as a short, round, balding man, with a huge white beard and thick glasses. And he's old enough to not give a fuck.
Very dense, lots of great information, a few obvious mistakes. Overall a very worthwhile read, but hard to follow at times as he jumps back and forth in time.