2268 Wall: The Inside Story of Divided Berlin, by Peter Wyden (read 17 Feb 1990) Since this book went to press before the momentous events of November 1989, it was out-of-date when I read it. But it still was very easy and fascinating reading. The author grew up in Berlin, but, being Jewish, got out with his folks in 1937. He was 21 or 22 when he was in the U.S. Army in Germany in 1945. He is a journalist, and some of the writing in this long book is not very good journalistic writing. The book tells in great detail the story of the building of the Berlin Wall--by Erich Honnecker--and the West's reaction (nil) to it. Then it tells of people who sought to escape the DDR. The author will have to do a sequel. In this book, at the end, he says the present identities of the two Gemanies are fixed "for a long time to come." But current thought says there may be reunification this year. Thus the dizzying tide of events confounds the wisest of students! This book was easy to read, even though some of it was boring. But I am glad I read it--it makes me even more joyful for the events of November 1989. ( )

Modern History Berlin Cold War Iron Curtain