Book Series Guide

William L. Shirer

Author guide

William L. Shirer Books in Order

William Lawrence Shirer (1904–1993) was an American journalist, foreign correspondent, radio broadcaster, historian, and novelist. He reported from Europe, India, and Nazi Germany, and was one of Edward R. Murrow's original CBS correspondents. His major works include Berlin Diary, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Collapse of the Third Republic, three autobiographical volumes, three novels, and biographies of Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, and Leo and Sonya Tolstoy.

historyjournalismmemoirbiographypolitical nonfictionnovel

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

Shirer’s defining and most widely known historical work.

Cover of Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941

Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941

Best entry point for his firsthand reporting and experience in Nazi Germany.

20th Century Journey: The Start, 1904–1930

Best entry point for reading his autobiographical series in order.

Read in order

Books by series

memoir series · complete

20th Century Journey

Shirer's three-volume memoir of his life and times, from his childhood and early career through his years as a foreign correspondent and his later life.

Series guide →
  1. 1
    20th Century Journey: The Start, 1904–1930

    Book 1 · memoir · 1976

  2. 2
    20th Century Journey: The Nightmare Years, 1930–1940

    Book 2 · memoir · 1984

  3. 3
    20th Century Journey: A Native’s Return, 1945–1988

    Book 3 · memoir · 1990

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (5)
  1. The Traitor

    novel · 1950

  2. Midcentury Journey: The Western World Through Its Years of Conflict

    nonfiction · 1952

  3. Stranger Come Home

    novel · 1954

  4. The Challenge of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland in Our Time

    nonfiction · 1955

  5. The Consul’s Wife

    novel · 1956

Nonfiction (6)
  1. Cover of Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941
    Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941

    diary · 1941

  2. Cover of End of a Berlin Diary
    End of a Berlin Diary

    diary · 1947

  3. Cover of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany
    The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

    history · 1960

  4. Cover of The Collapse of the Third Republic: An Inquiry into the Fall of France in 1940
    The Collapse of the Third Republic: An Inquiry into the Fall of France in 1940

    history · 1969

  5. Cover of Gandhi: A Memoir
    Gandhi: A Memoir

    biography · 1979

  6. Cover of Love and Hatred: The Troubled Marriage of Leo and Sonya Tolstoy
    Love and Hatred: The Troubled Marriage of Leo and Sonya Tolstoy

    biography · 1994

Children's books (2)
  1. Cover of The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler
    The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler

    juvenile nonfiction · 1961

  2. The Sinking of the Bismarck

    juvenile nonfiction · 1962

Other (1)
  1. This Is Berlin: Radio Broadcasts from Nazi Germany, 1938–1940

    collection · 1999