Lest we forget
This book, first published in 1947, was the most famous work of Hugh Trevor-Roper (1914 - 2003), the British historian. Acclaimed as a masterpiece by many historians at the time and later, it remains, in my view, along with 'Hitler - A Study in Tyranny' by Alan Bullock and 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' by William L. Shirer, a scholarly account of the Nazi era and in this case of the last days of Hitler in his Berlin bunker, based on interviews the author conducted with people who were there at the time.
Of course, a lot more information has bas come to light about what went on in Hitler's bunker since the last revised edition of the book was published. Trevor-Roper's reputation, too, suffered when he authenticated the so-called Hitler diaries in 1983, However, this book, written in the author's distinctive style and with a subtle sense of humour, remains a classic. The epilogue, in particular, in which he sums up his findings and spells out his views on dictators in general and their shortcomings, is as relevant today as it was then. It reminds us of what went on then and of what is going on under dicatorships today.
