Adolf Hitler is the most notorious political figure of the twentieth century. The story of his life, how he became a dictator, and how he managed to convince so many to follow his cause is a subject of perennial fascination. This new accessible biography looks at Hitler's life from his childhood, his time as a drop out, his awakening as a revolutionary and his then relatively conventional ascent to power. The story charts the days of Nazi Germany and the Second World War through to Hitler's humiliating defeat and death in his bunker.Michael Lynch addresses the fundamental question surrounding Hitler: Was he was the product of a unique, extraordinary epoch, or was he its creator? In the context of the great mass of ideas and interpretations that have been produced in response to this basic yet demanding question, Michael Lynch provides a balanced guide that will be enlightening for students and general readers alike.