The Beast Reawakens

Template:Short description Template:Infobox book The Beast Reawakens (later prints carried the subtitle Fascism's Resurgence from Hitler's Spymasters to Today's Neo-Nazi Groups and Right-Wing Extremists) is a 1997 book by investigative journalist Martin A. Lee documenting the transition of classical fascism to modern day neo-fascism.

Contents

The book opens with a quotation from T. E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922), a favorite of Hitler's favorite commando, SS-Standartenführer Otto Skorzeny. A large portion of the book focuses around Skorzeny, and Lee traces several "personalities" as throughlines in fascism's ideological development.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

The author discusses old-guard fascists' strategy for survival and the revival of fascism since 1944.<ref>Bill Weinberg, "The Beast Reawakens" (review), The Nation, July 14, 1997.</ref> Special attention is given to ODESSA actions during the Cold War, international fascist networks, and political inroads to the right-wing mainstream.

Background and publication history

Martin A. Lee is an American investigative journalist.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> The Beast Reawakens was published by Little, Brown and Company in 1997.<ref name=":0" /> Routledge published a revised paperback in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception

Joshua Rubinstein, reviewing the book for The New York Times, called it "a vivid survey of fascist resurgence throughout Europe".<ref>Joshua Rubinstein, "Hitler's Legacy", The New York Times, September 21, 1997.</ref> Publishers Weekly described it as a "compelling, intelligent investigation, which reads more like a thriller than a history lesson",<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> while Library Journal praised it as a "compelling work", especially in light of recent developments in militia movements.<ref name=":1" /> A review in Shofar gave a more mixed review, with reviewer David Meier calling its thesis "a disappointment" for the discerning reader, though entertaining.<ref name=":0" /> The Sunday Telegraph also disagreed with its main thesis, though called it "far better at the margins", praising its account of the ties between Nazis and government officials.<ref name="Sund970810">Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Introduction to The Beast Reawakens by Martin A. Lee.