The Chancellor

By: Kati Marton

Narrated by: Alex Allwine, Kati Marton

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.

©2021 Kati Marton. All rights reserved. (P)2021 imon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“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 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)

“With her signature superpowers of rigorous research and unparalleled empathy, Marton brings us deep into the private sphere of Angela Merkel, one of the world’s most critical defenders of democracy.” (Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Amity and Prosperity)

Ethical Leadership

I loved this biography. I so admire Angela Markel. so many lessons of ethical leadership from a truly humble woman.

Excellent biography

A trenchant look at Angela Merkel’s life and the experiences that informed her decision-making as Germany’s Chancellor. Marton explores the life of this famously private politician in ways that are insightful.

The audiobook frustrated me because of the narrators mispronunciation of names (e.g. Schröder, Biarritz) and even common English words like “indefatigable.” As much as that appears to fall on Allwine, ultimately it’s bad production oversight by Simon and Schuster Audio for not catching them and correcting them in pickup recordings. A surprising gaffe for a book of this importance.

Making Sense of Modern History

I appreciate how unemotional and matter-of-fact this work was presented by the narrator. It helped to focus on the details that went into shaping our current world. I gained better appreciation for several American Presidents and why their actions require more complexity than acting on personal whims. There is one common thread that shines throughout this work: any country focusing solely on its internal matters is doomed to fall behind the world community. Thank you, Madam Chancellor, for sharing these lessons with us.

Heroism grounded in truth, endurance and vision

It is difficult to praise this story enough. lt's presentation and impact are outstanding! Read it...

Fascinating woman of strength

Excellent biography of one of the most fascinating leaders in history. Narrator was pleasant to listen to.

Well presented though a little bit repetitive

Liked the way the book was organized around years or topics. Good to learn more about Merkle”s beginnings and political climb. Narration clear and pleasant.

Strange narration.

Excellent content, weirdly produced. The narrator would change the tone of her voice when quoting others. This made it feel very much as if she was reading a bedtime story along the lines of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. One wonders: What is this her idea orwas she encouraged to do this by some

Great leader ...and a lot of history ...

I learned a lot ...she has done a lot ... didn't come from much ... accomplished plenty!

Fascinating

Not a super-deep analysis of Merkel's 16 years as Chancellor (which would have been a 25-hour listen) but I could hardly "put this down." Understand that, like most biographers, this one admires her subject (and it was hard not to, for me, warts and all), and that Merkel was not always pleased with US leadership or policies -- though always being a staunch admirer of the United States as a beacon of freedom. With those two understandings, you can put personal political allegiances aside and enjoy this highly informative and well written book.

Good but…

Reads a bit like a hagiography. The biographical details are very interesting for an interpretation of our times.