By Canon Dr Mike D Williams
A political giant. Few politicians have had such influence over a changing Europe as Angela Merkel. This is the story of her early years through her political awakening and rapid rise to high office with insights into the personal and political challenges she faced.
Born in Hamburg in 1954 but raised in East Germany after her father, a Lutheran pastor, moved the family to the socialist state. Merkel’s earliest chapters are imbued with a sense of quiet defiance and intellectual curiosity. Her reflections on childhood – rigorous schooling, the watchful eye of the Stasi, and the subtle art of navigating a society where every word was weighed – establish the foundation from which her later leadership would grow.
As the Berlin Wall falls and German reunification becomes a reality, Merkel’s personal transformation mirrors that of her country. She describes her rapid rise within the ranks of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and her initial feelings of alienation as an outsider – a woman, an East German, and a scientist in a male-dominated, West-centric world.
The central sections of the memoir are devoted to Merkel’s years as Chancellor (2005-2021), a period that saw Germany become the anchor of a troubled continent. Here, Merkel’s prose becomes more measured, reflecting her well-known pragmatism and caution. The memoir does not offer sensational revelations or score-settling. Instead, Merkel provides a behind-the-scenes account of decision-making during key crises: the global financial meltdown of 2008, the Eurozone debt crisis, the annexation of Crimea, the migrant crisis, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
What emerges is a portrait of a leader deeply committed to consensus, stability, and the long view. Merkel’s recollections of late-night negotiations with Vladimir Putin, her cautious but firm stance on Russian aggression, and her efforts to keep Europe united in the face of centrifugal forces are rendered with understated drama. She is frank about her mistakes and moments of doubt, including her controversial decision to open Germany’s borders to refugees in 2015 and the backlash it provoked.
Her chapters on dealing with Donald Trump are marked by wry humour and a steely insistence on the value of alliances. She offers anecdotes about late-night phone calls, abrupt tweets, and the delicate art of maintaining composure under pressure. Similarly, her reflections on Brexit are tinged with regret and resolve. She describes her efforts to keep channels open with British leaders, her sadness at the UK’s departure, and her determination to preserve the European project.
At points there is too much detail about the times of flights from European Summits and other small details from her diary – evidence that she is the author. An editor might have improved the flow in some areas. A UK reader will find some of the detail about internal German debates less interesting, but she provides a different perspective on global issues. She is honest about the complexity of political choices – there are few simple solutions. For those seeking a nuanced, honest, and thought-provoking account of the last half-century, this memoir does not disappoint.