The Ghosts of Berlin

Book excerpt: “Written in a clear and elegant style, The Ghosts of Berlin is . . . a superb guide to this process of urban self-definition, both past and present.” —The Wall Street Journal In the twenty years since its original publication, The Ghosts of Berlin has become a classic, an unparalleled guide to understanding the presence of history in our built environment, especially in a space as historically contested—and emotionally fraught—as Berlin. Brian Ladd examines the ongoing conflicts radiating from the remarkable fusion of architecture, history, and national identity in Berlin. Returning to the city frequently, Ladd continues to survey the urban landscape, traversing its ruins, contemplating its buildings and memorials, and carefully deconstructing the public debates and political controversies emerging from its past. “With erudition, insight, and restraint, Brian Ladd carries off the dangerous task of analyzing architecture and urbanism in Berlin in terms of its horrific political past. He convincingly argues that architecture embodies ideological meaning more powerfully than other artifacts of a society.” —The New York Times Book Review “Ladd examines the conflicts radiating from [Berlin’s] remarkable fusion of architecture, history and national identity.” —History Today “His history of Berlin’s architectural successes and failures reads entertainingly like a detective novel.” —The New Republic “Ladd’s balanced, sensitive chronicle of the Berlin’s traumatized topography brings the past into focus.” —Harvard Design Magazine