Political, intellectual, and biographical studies have long dominated the scholarly investigation of German life. Bringing together for the first time the methodological and thematic diversity and richness of current work on the history of the German working class, this collection of original research explores the powerful impact of socialism and communism on modern German history.

Concentrating on social history generally, and on labor and women's history, gender studies, the history of everyday life, and personal narratives in particular, these essays deepen our understanding of the richness and complexity of both Germany's past and German historiography of the present day.