November 9, 2009, is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. These books at the Library explore the history of the Wall and modern Berlin.

Tear Down This Wall: A City, a President, and the Speech That Ended the Cold War
By Romesh Ratnesar
This book explores the events leading up to and after the “Tear Down this Wall” speech that President Ronald Reagan gave in front of 20,000 people in West Berlin. 

The Fall of the Berlin Wall
By William F. Buckley
The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 was the turning point in the struggle against Communism in Eastern Europe. William F. Buckley, conservative pundit, explains how and why the Cold War ended as it did – and what lessons we can draw from the experience.

The Berlin Wall: A World Divided, 1961-1989
By Frederick Taylor
Gripping and authoritative, Taylor’s definitive work is a comprehensive account of the most enduring symbol of the Cold War.

Stasiland
By Anna Funder
In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell; shortly afterwards East Germany ceased to exist. In a country where the headquarters of the secret police can become a museum literally overnight and one in 50 East Germans were informing on their fellow citizens, there are thousands of captivating stories. Anna Funder tells extraordinary tales from the underbelly of the former East Germany.

The Last Division: A History of Berlin, 1945-1989
By Ann Tusa
This book examines Berlin’s history through the Cold War and provides a detailed account of the Berlin Wall from erection to its fall.

The House at the Bridge: A Story of Modern Germany
By Katie Hafner
Journalist Hafner explores the history of modern Germany through a nineteenth century house 50 feet from the Berlin Wall in former East Germany. Originally owned by a Jewish family, the house was occupied by the Nazis and Russians during the war and later became a boarding school and was finally returned to its original family after reunification. This book tells the stories of those on whom the home had an impact.

Berlin
By David Clay Large
Large examines the city's complex political, social, economic, and cultural strands from Bismarck to post-Wall Berlin. It includes photos of its leaders, popular stars, monuments, and architecture old and new. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

After the Wall: East Meets West in the New Berlin
By John Borneman
Published in 1990, this book examines the lives of East Germans before and immediately after reunification.

Some book descriptions provided by BookLetters.