In Erik Larson's "In the Garden of Beasts," the author paints a vivid picture of Berlin during a time of turmoil. The bustling streets are alive with the sounds of streetcars, buses, and honking taxis, carrying an ever-increasing crowd of people. Amidst this chaos, the opulent scents and sights of the city intertwine, from the heavy perfume of fashionable women to the glint of monocles and the shimmer of both real and fake jewels.

The narrative presents Berlin as a complex city, simultaneously beautiful and deeply flawed. It is described as a "stone desert," where decadence and corruption run rampant. Despite the underlying sins and the sense of impending doom, the inhabitants seem to walk through life with a disconcerting smile, oblivious to the darkness encroaching on their reality. This juxtaposition of charm and moral decay captures the essence of a city on the brink of monumental change.