David King’s The Trial of Adolf Hitler dives into the chaotic Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 and Hitler's subsequent trial, a moment that transformed him from a fringe figure into a national leader. Through meticulous research, King recounts the drama and absurdity of the trial, showing how Hitler skillfully turned his legal defeat into a platform for his ambitions.

King’s writing brings history to life, balancing detail with storytelling to create a compelling narrative that’s both informative and accessible. For anyone interested in the early roots of Nazi Germany or the power of populist movements, this is a fascinating, sobering read.

I appear to be swimming against the tide on this one. I've read 17% of it and it is failing to hold my attention. It's full of detailed events, a cast of thousands, but no real analysis to explain the background. It's a period of history I'm unfamiliar with except in the broadest terms, and I hoped the book would explain how Hitler managed to rise to the top of his party and take power. This book signally fails to do that. Hitler's leadership seems to be taken as a given. Perhaps it becomes clear later in the book, but I'm afraid I've decided to abandon it at this point.

The writing style is fine in a plain, unvarnished way, but not enough on its own to hold my attention. The endless fact after fact, the many names given with no more introduction often than their title, the lack of context - perhaps this is a book that would work better for people already familiar with the facts, looking to learn more detail about the timeline, but for this novice, it's not giving me what I need.

Sorry - abandoned, and since I read so little of it I won't be reviewing it. I'm giving it 1-star here since NetGalley insists on a rating, but I won't be rating it on Goodreads or elsewhere.

This book posits the question of what the world could have been like, had the trial over the failed 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch not given Hitler a platform on which to build. This is an interesting look at a part of pre-WWII history that I was totally unaware of. Of course we know the outcome, but there is a real sense of a missed opportunity in history here.

The book itself is well-written, I found it kept my attention for the most part, and the details and historical characters were vividly brought to life. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in WWII history.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers, Pan Macmillan, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

This book takes a detailed look at what made Hitler into Hitler. It examines different events and aspects of his personality separately which means it sometimes lacks cohesion but all in all this book is detailed, sharp and informative. I would recommend for both general readers and those studying the period.
I was given a ARC from NetGalley all opinions are my own.

This is an excellently written book about the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923. Adolf Hitler attempts to stage a takeover of government, but ends up in hiding, then on trial. His short term in jail does nothing to deter him and after his release, he is firmly on the path to establishing the Nazi party as a credible political force.
This is a fascinating glimpse into life in Germany at the time and it is terrifying how much influence the far right were gaining as a result of dissatisfaction with the ruling Weimar government. The fact that justice was not served and Hitler was able to garner so much sympathy and support is a damning indictment of society at the time. Very interesting to read about the people who went on to become major figures in the Nazi party, this book is an excellent read if you have an interest in the rise of the Nazis and the run up to the Second World War. I would highly recommend this.

This is a really deep study of a series of events that played a crucial role in forming Hitler and his policies and all that came later. It is precise and detailed, with plenty of colour too. If a book like this can be classed as 'fun' then this one certainly is.