Summary

In “Genesis and Catastrophe,” after Klara Hitler gave birth, she was desperate to know if the baby would be okay. She had had three children already, all of whom had died. The doctor insisted the baby was “a fine strong healthy child” (199). Beside herself with worry, Klara told the doctor how each of her other children had died. The new baby’s smallness also concerned Klara. Her husband Alois had lamented how “small and weak” their previous children had been (203).

When Alois came to see Klara and the baby, who they named Adolf because of its “similarity to Alois,” he scoffed at the child’s appearance (204). The doctor told Alois to be good to his wife (207). Klara held the baby, telling Alois how much she had prayed for their son.

In “Edward the Conqueror,” Louisa went outside to...