This psychologically sensitive and fascinating study of the lives of eight selected composers must be acclaimed as a significant contribution to our understanding of the history of the Third Reich ... recommended reading.
Bulletin of the German Historical Institute
With the accuracy of a detective, Kater goes in search of the slightest clues that could throw light on ... Read moreeach artist's degree of involvement with the Third Reich. At the same time he lets the reader participate in this search for evidence and in the difficult and often ambivalent assessment of each individual when it comes to guilt or responsibility in dealings with the regime.
Bulletin of the German Historical Institute
One of the merits of this book is the way in which it brings to light the fine differences in the attitudes of these composers towards the Third Reich and how they and their music were regarded by the Nazi ruling class, whilst refraining from black-and-white depictions and generalizations.
Bulletin of the German Historical Institute
A very impressive achievement - for two reasons above all. First, the range of Kater's research and documentation is awe-inspiring. Second, Kater sets out neither to canonise or to demonise ... Ultimately, this is a book which provokes thoughts rather than spelling them out ... Kater doesn't offer answers, but after reading his book, we can at least see the questions more clearly.
Stephen Johnson, BBC Music Magazine
Kater's background knowledge is impressive, and he refuses to oversimplify of to make facile judgements ... well worth reading.
David Matthews, Times Literary Supplement.
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