BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES is not a traditional history book, it is more like a biography of the city viewed through the eyes of those who have made Berlin what it is today. BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES is a voyage through time, from the late Middle Ages to the present, using various landmarks, myths and artists to illustrate the ever-changing face of the historical city.

BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES is a very imaginative way of presenting a city by the way of artistic or political figures, German natives or not, and their contributions. As I already know quite a bit about the Berlin from WWII until today, it those chapters didn't hold as much interest for me as others. Among my favourites are Chapter three featuring Frederick the Great, and the Making of Prussia: it is positively enthralling as is Chapter eighteen Bill Harvey, and the Tunnel. Chapter nine, Fritz Haber, and the Geography of Evil left me absolutely flabbergasted. Although I knew of Haber's unfortunate contribution to history, I did not know this story, and I found this episode both riveting and horrifying. Another chapter I particularly enjoyed is Chapter five: Lilli Neuss, and the Owl, based upon a myth where no actual records exist; it is mostly imagined by the author and based on lore; it's a beautiful and lyrical story.

It is interesting that the author chose to write his book in this particular fashion. Mr. MacLean, a Canadian by birth who resided in the UK for several years and now makes his home in Berlin, obviously knows the city very well. And instead of merely relating dry facts, it is through the lives of others that he lets Berlin breathe and live. BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES is extremely well-researched and documented, as demonstrated by the exhaustive bibliography; the author also used his personal diaries, and there is a useful index at the end. I was a bit surprised at the lack of photographs in BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES. There is only a two page layout introducing each chapter, and I would have liked to see a corresponding picture of the landmark today, when it is the case.

What impressed me the most is how exceptionally well- written is BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES. Mr. MacLean's writing style is very accessible, concise and yet very beautiful, expressive, and as previously mentioned often lyrical, and best of all, the style always fits the subject at hand. BERLIN: PORTRAIT OF A CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES is a different sort of history book for a city that resembles no other; very fitting and very well done!