Eva Braun

Life with Hitler

By: Heike B. Gortemaker

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

German historian Heike B. Görtemaker delivers the first comprehensive biography of Eva Braun in this authoritative reassessment of Braun’s role in Hitler’s life and revealing portrait of the Führer and his inner circle. Drawing on newly discovered documents, Görtemaker carefully distinguishes fact from fiction.

©2011 Damion Searls (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“The first scientifically researched biography to correct the image of the dumb blonde at the side of the mass murderer.” ( Spiegel)

Diva Or 'Dippy'!

I knew very little about Eva Braun prior to reading this book. Unlike the other reviewers my concentration has been primarily in Tudor history but I was watching a documentary on Adolf Hitler and I had to admit that I was intrigued as to the type of woman (correction 'girl') who would be interested in sharing her life with this crazed egomaniac.

I quickly found this very informative volume on Audible.com and I am delighted.

Initially I expected a 'co-egomaniac' but I was so wrong. However I am still confused. Aren’t we all though? Was Eva a Diva 'wanna' be? Did she listen to her parents who were pretty smart? Let us not forget that they survived the war pretty well in tact didn't they? Perhaps they manipulated her and intimated that she could become the future Frau Fuhrer!

On the other hand Eva was yet another 'fan' of Hitler's. Also there was much discussion within the Third Reich about Hitler's sexuality. Rumors regarding incest, suicide, insanity and even murder.

Personally I think that Eva was as well trained as poor Blondie, Hitler's dog. Let's face it, he would say 'jump, sit, stand, leave, come, go’...and guess what ...they both did.

Excellent performance by Suzanne Toran. So glad that the narrator had a German accent as so often a performer with an American or profound British accent is chosen. I feel that 'something' is lost when this is done.

A really interesting read that will make you think.

Eva Braun, Friends and Family

This book doesn't give you anything really new about Eva, but it does give a little bit more of a rounded background and picture of her. The author does bring in alot of characters some we know already (like Hitler and his inner circle) and some you might know so well (like her family members and co-workers). I feel that the author by bringing in others in Eva and Hitler's life, the reader gets a feel for how she reacted, also how some of them reacted and felt about her. I found this especially true when reading about how the wives of the inner circle characters. But, like all the biographies written about her, she is revealed as a person that Hitler kept in the shadows, but you learn he did this with all the "secretaries" that worked for him, when important visitors come to call at the Berghof. In case you didn't know she listed as one of many "secretaries" Hitler had around him . However, you will learn she had an interest in other things that revolved around her, such as her pets, shopping and fashion, picture taking (the films we now have of Hitler are home movies she made) and her family, but she was also dutiful and loyal to Hitler to the end. An was she so foolish.. she paid the supreme sacrifice for the man she loved and went down in history as the wife of Hitler, foolish? perhaps. All in all its an excellent read and will definitely hold the attention of any "Hitlerphile" or WWII addict. Yes you will read alot about Hitler and his little quirks and habits from the time she met Hitler and their death.

Informative about the time, politics and Eva and very well read,

I liked the general overview of the Nazi rise to power as well as the evaluation of previous literature. A great deal of info regarding Eva Braun comes from other individuals bibliographies or testimonies both of which have reason to tell as story beneficial to the storyteller and not necessarily true. The author references other sources such as government memos, requisitions and travel documents.
I’ve listened to the book before but since I’ve learned more about the Nazi perpetrators and laws, I’m getting a great deal more enjoyment listening to this a second time.
The reader is fabulous- she also reads a wonderful book about Norway - Hitlers Northern Utopia and makes that book an excellent listen.

Not much about Eva Braun

Interesting book but not a book about Eva Braun. Most is about Hitler and his followers. Only occasional references to Eva Braun. Seems like the author had little to say about Eva Braun but needed to fill out a full book and chose to rehash Hitler stories

Too many incidental names. Not enough substance.

The author doesn't really get around to the subject until well into the book. Pretty disappointed.

Poor history and too much speculation

Eva Braun entered the pages of history when she died with Hitler in the Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945. One would think that alone would be enough to make her interesting but Gortemaker is determined to find more. I understand the impulse but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

This is very poor history. I lost count of the number of times the author said, "we must assume" or "we can speculate" or "it is likely" after the first several chapters. Virtually the entire book is speculation and Braun's presence is very thin. Gortemaker assumes motivations based on nothing more than speculation as to how the average person might react or behave in a given situation. She assumes relationships or hostilities based on nothing more substantial than a given person's mention or failure to mention Braun in their correspondence. She notes multiple people who cannot be considered reliable sources yet relies on their words if it conforms to her assumptions. She also repeatedly and erroneously refers to Hitler's sister Paula as "Angela," the name of Paula's daughter and Hitler's dead niece, an error that is both distracting and indicative of sloppy work.

Eva Braun is fascinating because we know next to nothing about her. She appears to have been a fun-loving, vibrant, charming young woman, a rather modern woman who enjoyed the cinema, dancing, modern music, and smoking cigarettes. Part of her mystery lies in figuring out why Hitler was with her and what he saw in her (and she in him). You will not learn that from this book. We will probably never learn it at all. And that's okay.

Too many incidental names. Not enough substance.

The author doesn't really get around to the subject until well into the book. Pretty disappointed.

Don't waste your time

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If it had been Eva Brauns bio

What about Suzanne Toren’s performance did you like?

I like all of her performances

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

I should have listened to other reviews but I was curious. I'd like to hear a memoir on her life with Hitler not a bunch of unimportant ramblings.