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The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel Hardcover – October 26, 2021

by Kati Marton (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,049 ratings
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The “captivating” (The New York Times), definitive biography of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, detailing the extraordinary rise and political brilliance of the most powerful—and elusive—woman in the world.

Angela Merkel has always been an outsider. A pastor’s daughter raised in Soviet-controlled East Germany, she spent her twenties working as a research chemist, entering politics only after the fall of the Berlin Wall. And yet within fifteen years, she had become chancellor of Germany and, before long, the unofficial leader of the West.

In this “masterpiece of discernment and insight” (The New York Times Book Review), acclaimed biographer Kati Marton sets out to pierce the mystery of Merkel’s unlikely ascent. With unparalleled access to the chancellor’s inner circle and a trove of records only recently come to light, she teases out the unique political genius that had been the secret to Merkel’s success. No modern leader so ably confronted Russian aggression, enacted daring social policies, and calmly unified an entire continent in an era when countries are becoming more divided. Again and again, she cleverly outmaneuvered strongmen like Putin and Trump, and weathered surprisingly complicated relationships with allies like Obama and Macron.

Famously private, the woman who emerges from this “impressively researched” (The Wall Street Journal) account is a role model for anyone interested in gaining and keeping power while staying true to one’s moral convictions. At once a “riveting” (Los Angeles Review of Books) political biography, an intimate human portrait, and a revelatory look at successful leadership in action, The Chancellor brings forth one of the most extraordinary women of our time.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    October 26, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1501192620
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1501192623
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Chancellor

The Chancellor

The Chancellor

The Chancellor

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Captivating.”
—Michelle Goldberg, The New York Times

“Terrific.”
—Fareed Zakaria, CNN

“A masterpiece of discernment and insight.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Kati Marton has come closer than anyone to unlocking the mystery of Angela Merkel, the most important politician of the twenty-first century.”
—George Packer, National Book Award-winning author of Last Best Hope

“A riveting story, adroitly told, full of engrossing anecdotes and rich details.”
—Los Angeles Review of Books

“Kati Marton’s cogent and penetrating portrait of Angela Merkel will change our understanding of the most powerful woman in the world. With a rare grasp of the subtleties of global politics, Marton explains how an unassuming science PhD from East Germany emerged to save the Western Alliance. It’s a thrilling tale, skillfully told.”
—Jonathan Alter, New York Times bestselling author of His Very Best

“To understand how we can protect democracy in an era of populist and authoritarian upheaval, we need to understand Angela Merkel. Kati Marton has produced an intimate, insightful portrait of an extraordinarily private leader, who, in her quiet and determined way, made Germany the economic and moral leader of Europe.”
—Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author of The Code Breaker

“Impressively researched… with deftly drawn depictions of Ms. Merkel’s early years, personality and daily working life, depictions made all the more interesting by how little most of the public knows about what makes Ms. Merkel tick.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“The private Merkel also makes an appearance in this biography, with accounts of her marriages, her love of music and nature, and her sense of humor on full display. After finishing the book, readers will likely feel that the description of Merkel as “elusive” no longer serves... [I]t takes a writer of Marton’s caliber to reveal what has been in front of us the whole time.”
—Christian Science Monitor

“A compelling and memorable portrait. Angela Merkel’s life is a testament to the power of commitment, diligence, and the possibilities of politics. The Chancellor tells that story with insight and grace.”
—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of His Truth is Marching On

“It’s instructive to spend time in Merkel’s competent and humane company… [Marton] has doggedly retraced Merkel’s trail, and the story she brings is a good one.”
—Dwight Garner, The New York Times

“With her signature superpowers of rigorous research and unparalleled empathy, Marton brings us deep into the private sphere of Angela Merkel.”
—Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Amity and Prosperity

“This smart, readable biography chronicles Merkel’s remarkable odyssey... knit from a thousand threads of details revealed over the years.”
—Susan Page, USA Today (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)

“This is the best English-language biography of her rise from a tough and traditional family, through her career as a physical chemist in communist East Germany, to her current renown.”
—Foreign Affairs

“A fascinating picture of a powerful woman whose repeated denigration of power only concealed how wedded she was to power as a means of getting her own way.”
— London Times Literary Review

“Marton… [has] obtained a remarkable degree of access to the chancellor’s inner circle… Merkel emerges as a sympathetic and down-to earth figure… [and] winningly independent-minded.”
—The Times (UK)

“We need many more Angela Merkels in the world; aspiring leaders should start with this book.”
—Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America

“Definitive and brilliantly written, The Chancellor reads like a mystery, as if we didn’t yet know the outcome. This is the biography for history!”
—Volker Schlöndorff, Academy Award-winning director of The Tin Drum

“Marton’s beautifully written, balanced and insightful biography should be enjoyed by anyone interested in global politics or a fascinating life story.”
—BookPage (starred review)

“Fascinating. For anyone who thinks they know a lot about Angela Merkel; for anyone who knows nothing about Angela Merkel—pick up this book and do not put it down until the very last page.”
—New York Journal of Books

About the Author

Kati Marton is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including True Believer: Stalin’s Last American Spy and Enemies of the People: My Family’s Journey to America, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. An award-winning former NPR correspondent and ABC News bureau chief in Germany, she was born in Hungary and lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; First Edition (October 26, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501192620
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501192623
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.19 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,049 ratings

About the author

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Kati Marton

Kati Marton

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Kati Marton, an award-winning former NPR and ABC News correspondent, is the author of Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History, a New York Times bestseller, as well as Wallenberg, The Polk Conspiracy, A Death in Jerusalem, and a novel, An American Woman. Mother of a son and a daughter, she lives in New York with her husband, Richard Holbrooke.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,049 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

DG
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, Great Person
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
Well written, few wasted or unnecessary words. Holds your interests to the end but does still leaves the reader wanting to know the subject of the book better.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of Merkel and her tenure as Chancellor.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book is very clearly written and a joy to read. It provides very interesting early life background about the Chancellor and then discusses some key people and events in her long tenure. My only quibble is that it is clearly written by a strong supporter, and might have benefitted from a little more balance. But a great and informative read about a remarkable women. We, in the US, have a lot to learn from her approach to politics.
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B J Harpur
4.0 out of 5 stars A world leader by example
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
Interesting but you never get to feel close to Angela Merkel in this book.Her not being prepared to be engaged in discussion discredits a good attempt to understand her thought process.I always felt one step removed from her as a result.
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Martha J. Biery
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible woman
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
This biography was very well written and extremely easy to understand. A great history lesson for all of us and a wonderful testament to this woman and her vision for the world!
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henry miller
5.0 out of 5 stars a superb book
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
An excellent and enlightening story about a great woman, Angela Merkel. I feel enriched after reading it. It is memorable
One person found this helpful
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Maryam
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful journey!

Truly astonished by Angela Merkel’s journey to being one of the strongest leaders in the world.

A truly inspirational and insightful book.

Also, a very well organized book written beautifully by Kati Marton.

A must read!
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Melinda
5.0 out of 5 stars just what i ordered and wanted
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
ordered on time in fantastic condition.
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Brunhilde
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Lady
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany for 16 years. Born in East Germany, her education included studying Russian, some English but was primarily scientific culminating in a Ph.D. Certain words and themes keep coming up in the book that describe her governance - ethical, moral, trust, scientific approach, high standards, hard work.

Her legacy is impressive but too broad to discuss here and included improving European unity, emphasis on global warming, liberal immigration policies, trade deals with China and leading on so many issues of the day. Also interesting is how she dealt with difficult personalities as Putin and Trump.

A wonderful read about this important global figure.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was a bit of an eye opener, learning about Angel Merkel. What a fascinating woman. A great read for a. book club!
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Adonay
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on June 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excelente, ojalá algún día se traduzca para que lo lea más gente hispanohablante.
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Rafael Ladeira
4.0 out of 5 stars História de vida que vale a pena conhecer.
Reviewed in Brazil on April 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Um livro que se destaca dentre tantos outros. Uma mulher muito a frente do seu tempo, que realmente fez a diferença na política do seu país, da sua região e em todo o mundo. Sabendo mais da sua história pude perceber a importância que ela teve e ainda tem no cenário mundial. Bom seria se existissem mais pessoas como ela no mundo, principalmente na política.
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MJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable reading
Reviewed in Germany on September 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
Strongly recommended, well written and insightful.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable
Reviewed in India on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
Crisp narration , No repetition, full of facts and insight
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