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William L. Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" primarily focuses on the period from the end of World War I to the beginning of World War II.
Answer: False
Explanation: The book covers the period from Adolf Hitler's birth in 1889 to the end of World War II in Europe in 1945, encompassing the entire lifespan of Hitler and the duration of the Nazi regime.
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was first published in the United Kingdom by a prominent British publishing company.
Answer: False
Explanation: The book was first published on October 17, 1960, by Simon & Schuster in the United States.
William L. Shirer's book contains 1,249 pages, reflecting its extensive coverage of Nazi Germany.
Answer: True
Explanation: The book contains 1,249 pages, indicating its extensive and detailed coverage of the subject matter and reflecting the depth of Shirer's research.
The National Book Award for Non-Fiction was the only major literary prize "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" received.
Answer: False
Explanation: In addition to the National Book Award for Non-Fiction in 1961, the book also won the Carey–Thomas Award for non-fiction.
Criticism of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" within Germany paradoxically led to increased sales in that country.
Answer: True
Explanation: Criticism of the book within Germany actually stimulated its sales there, suggesting that the controversy surrounding its interpretation of German history drew more attention to the work.
"The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" sold over one million hardcover copies and over one million paperback copies in the U.S.
Answer: True
Explanation: In the U.S., "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" sold more than one million hardcover copies and more than one million paperback copies, demonstrating its immense commercial success.
The Book of the Month Club was responsible for a minority of the hardcover sales of Shirer's book.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Book of the Month Club was highly significant to the book's hardcover sales, accounting for two-thirds of the more than one million copies sold.
The paperback rights for the book were sold to Fawcett Publications in 1961 for $40,000.
Answer: False
Explanation: In 1961, Simon & Schuster sold the paperback rights to Fawcett Publications for $400,000, which is equivalent to $4.21 million in 2024 dollars.
Shirer and his publisher expected immense public interest in Nazi Germany, leading to a large initial printing.
Answer: False
Explanation: William L. Shirer and his publisher were surprised by the book's popular success because they had anticipated little public interest in Nazi Germany, commissioning a modest first printing of only 12,500 copies.
What is the full title of William L. Shirer's comprehensive book about Nazi Germany?
Answer: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
Explanation: The full title of William L. Shirer's book is "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany."
Which historical period does William L. Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" primarily cover?
Answer: From the birth of Adolf Hitler in 1889 to the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
Explanation: William L. Shirer's book chronicles the period from the birth of Adolf Hitler in 1889 to the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
When was "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" first published?
Answer: October 17, 1960
Explanation: "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was first published on October 17, 1960, by Simon & Schuster in the United States.
How many pages does the book "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" contain?
Answer: 1,249 pages
Explanation: The book "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" contains 1,249 pages.
Which prestigious award did "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" receive in 1961, reflecting its acclaim among journalists?
Answer: National Book Award for Non-Fiction
Explanation: "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" received the National Book Award for Non-Fiction in 1961.
What was the unique effect of criticism within Germany on the sales of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"?
Answer: It paradoxically stimulated sales, drawing more attention to the book.
Explanation: Criticism of the book within Germany actually stimulated its sales there, suggesting that the controversy drew more attention to the work.
Approximately how many hardcover copies of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" were sold in the U.S.?
Answer: More than one million
Explanation: In the U.S., "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" sold more than one million hardcover copies.
What percentage of the book's hardcover sales were accounted for by the Book of the Month Club?
Answer: Two-thirds
Explanation: The Book of the Month Club accounted for two-thirds of the book's hardcover sales.
For how much were the paperback rights sold to Fawcett Publications in 1961?
Answer: $400,000
Explanation: In 1961, Simon & Schuster sold the paperback rights to Fawcett Publications for $400,000.
Which magazine serialized "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" in 1962, reaching approximately 12 million additional readers?
Answer: Reader's Digest
Explanation: In 1962, the "Reader's Digest" magazine serialization of the book reached approximately 12 million additional readers.
Why were William L. Shirer and his publisher surprised by the book's popular success?
Answer: They anticipated little public interest in Nazi Germany more than fifteen years after WWII.
Explanation: Shirer and his publisher were surprised by the book's popular success because they had anticipated little public interest in Nazi Germany more than fifteen years after the end of the Second World War.
Academic historians universally praised Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" upon its initial publication.
Answer: False
Explanation: While journalists widely praised the book, the reception from academic historians was mixed, with some acknowledging Shirer's achievement but others condemning it.
Shirer's central interpretation of the Nazi era was that it was an isolated phenomenon unrelated to broader German history.
Answer: False
Explanation: Shirer's central historical interpretation posits that German history logically proceeded from Martin Luther to Adolf Hitler, suggesting a continuous historical trajectory leading to Nazism rather than viewing it as an isolated phenomenon.
The "Sonderweg" interpretation of German history suggests a unique historical development in Germany that inherently led to Nazism.
Answer: True
Explanation: The "Sonderweg" interpretation suggests a distinct historical development in Germany, arguing that German history inherently led to figures like Hitler and Nazism.
Hugh Trevor-Roper's review in the New York Times Book Review described the book as "a splendid work of scholarship."
Answer: True
Explanation: In a "New York Times Book Review," Hugh Trevor-Roper praised the book as "a splendid work of scholarship, objective in method, sound in judgment, inescapable in its conclusions."
West German historians generally embraced the "Sonderweg" interpretation of Nazism presented in Shirer's book.
Answer: False
Explanation: West German historians almost universally rejected the "Sonderweg" interpretation of Nazism, favoring the view that Nazism was simply one instance of totalitarianism.
Klaus Epstein criticized Shirer's book for its deep understanding of modern totalitarian regimes and its engagement with current scholarship.
Answer: False
Explanation: Klaus Epstein contended that Shirer's book had "four major failings," including no understanding of a modern totalitarian regime and ignorance of current scholarship of the Nazi period.
Elizabeth Wiskemann considered "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" to be sufficiently scholarly and well-written to satisfy academic demands.
Answer: False
Explanation: Elizabeth Wiskemann concluded that the book was "not sufficiently scholarly nor sufficiently well written to satisfy more academic demands," finding it "too long and cumbersome."
LGBT activist Peter Tatchell criticized the book for its inadequate treatment of the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany.
Answer: True
Explanation: Nearly 36 years after its publication, LGBT activist Peter Tatchell criticized the book's treatment of the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany.
Richard J. Evans praised Shirer for working within the academic mainstream and being well-informed by contemporary historical scholarship.
Answer: False
Explanation: Richard J. Evans criticized Shirer's academic approach, contending that Shirer worked outside the academic mainstream and that his account was not informed by the historical scholarship of the time.
What was William L. Shirer's central historical interpretation of the Nazi era regarding German history?
Answer: German history logically proceeded from Martin Luther to Adolf Hitler.
Explanation: Shirer's central historical interpretation posits that German history logically proceeded from Martin Luther to Adolf Hitler, suggesting a continuous historical trajectory.
What does the "Sonderweg" interpretation of German history, associated with Shirer's book, suggest?
Answer: Germany followed a unique historical path that led to Nazism.
Explanation: The "Sonderweg" interpretation suggests a distinct historical development in Germany, arguing that German history inherently led to figures like Hitler and Nazism.
How did Hugh Trevor-Roper describe "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" in his New York Times Book Review?
Answer: A splendid work of scholarship, objective in method, sound in judgment, inescapable in its conclusions.
Explanation: Hugh Trevor-Roper praised the book as "a splendid work of scholarship, objective in method, sound in judgment, inescapable in its conclusions" in his New York Times Book Review.
According to Gavriel Rosenfeld, how did German historians in the 1960s perceive "Rise and Fall" and its potential impact on international relations?
Answer: They unanimously condemned it, fearing it might inflame anti-German sentiments in the U.S.
Explanation: According to Gavriel Rosenfeld, German historians in the 1960s unanimously condemned "Rise and Fall," fearing it might inflame anti-German sentiments in the United States.
Which of the following was NOT one of the "four major failings" Klaus Epstein contended were present in Shirer's book?
Answer: An overly sympathetic portrayal of Adolf Hitler.
Explanation: Klaus Epstein's "four major failings" included a crude understanding of German history, lack of balance, no understanding of modern totalitarian regimes, and ignorance of current scholarship, but not an overly sympathetic portrayal of Hitler.
Joseph Barnes, the editor for Shirer's book, was instrumental in preventing Simon & Schuster from canceling the contract due to manuscript delays.
Answer: True
Explanation: Joseph Barnes assisted William L. Shirer by winning reprieves for him from Simon & Schuster, who had threatened to cancel the contract multiple times due to the manuscript being very late.
William L. Shirer received a substantial grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to complete his book when he ran out of money.
Answer: False
Explanation: Shirer received crucial financial assistance from The Overbrook Foundation when he ran out of money, not the Rockefeller Foundation.
The original main title planned for the book was "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," with "Hitler's Nightmare Empire" as the subtitle.
Answer: False
Explanation: The original title planned was "Hitler's Nightmare Empire," with "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as the sub-title, which was later reversed.
The iconic black jacket with the swastika for the book's cover was designed by Frank Metz.
Answer: True
Explanation: Art director Frank Metz designed the black jacket bearing the swastika for the book's cover, which became instantly recognizable.
Bookstores initially welcomed the swastika on the cover of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as a bold artistic choice.
Answer: False
Explanation: Initially, bookstores across the country protested displaying the swastika on the book's cover and threatened not to stock the book.
Who was the editor for "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" who helped Shirer with Simon & Schuster?
Answer: Joseph Barnes
Explanation: Joseph Barnes was the editor for "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and was instrumental in winning reprieves for Shirer from Simon & Schuster.
What organization provided crucial financial assistance to William L. Shirer when he ran out of money while writing the book?
Answer: The Overbrook Foundation
Explanation: The Overbrook Foundation provided crucial financial assistance to William L. Shirer when he ran out of money, enabling him to complete his book.
Who made the decision to use "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as the main title instead of the original planned main title?
Answer: Nina Bourne
Explanation: Nina Bourne decided that the original sub-title, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," should be used as the main title for the book.
Who designed the iconic black jacket featuring the swastika for the book's cover?
Answer: Frank Metz
Explanation: Art director Frank Metz designed the black jacket bearing the swastika for the book's cover.
What was the initial reaction of bookstores to the swastika on the book's cover?
Answer: They protested displaying it and threatened not to stock the book.
Explanation: Initially, bookstores across the country protested displaying the swastika on the book's cover and threatened not to stock the book.
A television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was broadcast on the ABC network in 1968.
Answer: True
Explanation: A television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was broadcast in the United States on the ABC television network in 1968.
The 1968 television adaptation of the book consisted of a single, two-hour special.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1968 television adaptation consisted of three episodes, with a one-hour episode aired each night over three nights.
The 1990 edition of the book included a new introduction by Ron Rosenbaum.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1990 edition contained an afterword by Shirer, while the 2011 edition included a new introduction by Ron Rosenbaum.
An audiobook version of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was released in 2010 by Blackstone Audio.
Answer: True
Explanation: An audiobook version of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was released in 2010 by Blackstone Audio and read by Grover Gardner.
In what year was a television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" broadcast on the ABC network?
Answer: 1968
Explanation: A television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" was broadcast on the ABC television network in 1968.
Who composed the theme music for the 1968 television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich"?
Answer: Lalo Schifrin
Explanation: Lalo Schifrin composed the theme music for the television adaptation of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich."