Language and Meaning

Structure

In the Garden of Beasts is the story of William E. Dodd who was the United States Ambassador to Germany from 1933 through 1937, precisely when Adolph Hitler's ascension to power was taking place. With obvious signs of trouble brewing, diplomats were not vying for the job as US Ambassador to Germany. Filling that position was one of the first and most difficult challenges facing the the newly elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

William E. Dodd was a history professor at the University of Chicago where he had served for decades. Although he always had political aspirations, he was never called upon to serve his country. In 1933, Dodd was frustrated that his career at the University had really never taken off and that he had been by-passed by years for diplomatic positions within the government. He was on the verge of retiring from the university to devote...