{"title":"Victor Sebestyen","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the compelling works of Victor Sebestyen, an acclaimed author known for his insightful contributions to historical literature. As a journalist and historian, Sebestyen delves into pivotal moments and figures in history with precision and clarity, making his books a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his notable works, \u003cem\u003eBudapest\u003c\/em\u003e offers a rich tapestry of the city's tumultuous history and vibrant culture, painting a vivid picture of its evolution over time. Meanwhile, \u003cem\u003eLenin the Dictator\u003c\/em\u003e presents a gripping biography that unravels the complex personality and enduring impact of one of the 20th century's most influential leaders. With meticulous research, Sebestyen sheds light on Lenin's rise and the profound changes he instigated in Russia and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis latest work, \u003cem\u003eWeimar Germany\u003c\/em\u003e, examines the fascinating yet turbulent Weimar Republic, providing a comprehensive look at its cultural renaissance and eventual downfall. Through Sebestyen's engaging narrative, readers gain a deeper understanding of this crucial period in German history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSebestyen's books, encompassing categories such as History \u0026amp; Military and Biography \u0026amp; Memoir, promise to enlighten and engage, offering valuable insights into the complexities of world history.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"budapest","title":"Budapest","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBudapest\u003c\/em\u003e has always been an important place. Almost at the centre of Europe, it is at the crossroads of geographical regions and civilisations, at the intersection of ancient trade routes. Mountains that gradually slope into gentle hills converge on a great river, the Danube, and the regions of Buda and Pest sprang up on either side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout history, the centre of gravity in Budapest and among Hungarians has shifted between this division of East and West—culturally, politically, emotionally. Invaders have come and gone, empires have conquered, occupied for centuries or decades, and left a few footprints behind: the remains of a Roman bathhouse complete with wonderfully preserved mosaics stand next to a Soviet-style 'five-year-plan' apartment block.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe city bears the scars of the rise and fall of multiple empires, two world wars, fascism, Nazi German occupation, and Soviet Communism. It has been home to some of the world's greatest writers, artists, and musicians. Hungary is a place of extremes, a small country that has often in history punched well above its weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt many moments, events that began in Budapest have proved to be of world significance. This is the story of that tumultuous, often divided, but always fascinating city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45711148155116,"sku":"9781474610018","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781474610018.jpg?v=1725972470"},{"product_id":"lenin-the-dictator-by-victor-sebestyen-9781474601054","title":"Lenin the Dictator","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A fresh, powerful portrait of Lenin' Anne Applebaum, author of \u003ci\u003eRed Famine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Richly readable ... An enthralling but appalling story' Francis Wheen, author of \u003ci\u003eKarl Marx\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe cold, one-dimensional figure of Lenin the political fanatic is only a partial truth. Drawing on extensive material that has only recently become available, Sebestyen's gripping biography casts an intriguing new light on the character behind the politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn reality, Lenin was a man who loved nature as much as he loved making revolution, and his closest relationships were with women. He built a state based on terror. But he was a highly emotional man given to furious rages and deep passions. While never ignoring the politics, Sebestyen examines Lenin's inner life, his relationship with his wife, and his long love affair with Inessa Armand, the most romantic and beguiling of Bolsheviks. These two women were as significant as the men—Stalin or Trotsky—who created the world's first Communist state with him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46844358820076,"sku":"9781474601054","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/62273482713.jpg?v=1758838540"},{"product_id":"weimar-germany-by-victor-sebestyen-9781399618441","title":"Weimar Germany","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the years after the First World War, Berlin was\u003c\/strong\u003e —\u003cstrong\u003eas Vladimir Nabokov described it\u003c\/strong\u003e—\u003cstrong\u003ea place 'of dangerous glamour and worldliness, of tawdry cynicism, where art and riot flourished side by side.'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Weimar Republic was Germany's postwar experiment with democracy, and a time of unprecedented cultural, intellectual, and artistic freedom. Berlin was at the cutting edge of quantum physics and psychoanalysis; its nightlife showcased grand opera and dissolute cabaret. Bauhaus architecture and modernist painting flourished, and it rivalled Hollywood as a capital of film. But beneath the glamour was a deeply polarised society of extremes plagued by economic disasters, populist leaders fuelling culture wars, and an uneasy political settlement that would soon spawn the horrors of Nazism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCovering fifteen years from the end of the First World War to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933, \u003cem\u003eWeimar Germany\u003c\/em\u003e tells the definitive story of Germany's interwar republic and descent into fascism. Featuring an extraordinary cast of characters including Vladimir Nabokov, Albert Einstein, Marlene Dietrich, Adolf Hitler, Billy Wilder, Thomas Mann, Joseph Goebbels, Christopher Isherwood, and Rosa Luxemburg, \u003cem\u003eWeimar Germany\u003c\/em\u003e is a gripping and evocative account of how the fledgling German democracy died.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Alliance Distribution Services Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47310153777388,"sku":"9781399618441","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399618441.jpg?v=1771193166"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/victor-sebestyen.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}