Angela Merkel’s biography ‘Freiheit’ (Freedom) launched globally on December 2, accompanied by a promotional tour. The opening event in Washington D.C. featured Merkel and former President Obama reminiscing about their political partnership, though critics found the conversation lacking in substance and relevance to current global issues. Merkel’s memoir, released on November 26, has seen strong sales, and she plans to continue her promotional efforts across various European cities following her US appearances.
Angela Merkel’s Global Book Tour Kicks Off
The highly anticipated biography ‘Freiheit’ (Freedom) by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, 70, is now available in over 30 countries. To celebrate this launch, Merkel embarked on a brief international promotional tour starting on December 2. The inaugural event featuring the English version of ‘Freedom’ took place in Washington D.C., where she was warmly welcomed by none other than former US President Barack Obama, 63, at the sold-out venue ‘The Anthem’. This engaging evening lasted about one and a half hours and primarily revolved around the cherished memories shared between the two political allies. However, many observers left feeling disappointed due to the lack of exciting revelations or self-reflection during the discussion.
Critiques of the Evening’s Discussion
Critics noted that the conversation strayed away from pressing global issues, with neither Putin, 72, nor Donald Trump, 78, being mentioned. Instead, Merkel and Obama focused on nostalgic anecdotes, as reported by ‘ntv’. The website ‘t-online.de’ even deemed their interaction ‘irrelevant’, stating it was ‘boring, disconnected, and filled with mutual flattery’ while notably absent of any self-critique. Although Obama took the role of moderator, he playfully clarified that he wasn’t channeling Oprah Winfrey, making an exception for his ‘dear friend’ Merkel, who took center stage. The setting at ‘The Anthem’ was minimalist, with both leaders seated in armchairs facing each other; Merkel donned a classic white blazer while Obama opted for a dark suit. Their conversation touched on their initial challenges and the deepening of their relationship, with Merkel sharing insights about her upbringing in East Germany and its lasting impact on her life.
Tickets for the event were priced at over $400, attracting a crowd eager to witness the exchange. Despite the language barrier, with Obama speaking in English and Merkel replying in German, a simultaneous translator facilitated the dialogue for the audience. Interestingly, although Trump’s name was notably absent from their talk, Merkel later discussed his fascination with authoritarian leaders in an interview with ‘CNN’, reflecting on her experiences during his presidency.
Merkel’s memoir, ‘Freiheit’, was released on November 26 and spans 736 pages, retailing at 42 euros. The book’s launch day saw impressive sales, with approximately 35,000 copies sold. Since then, the former chancellor has participated in various promotional events, including a signing session in Berlin where enthusiastic fans formed long lines. However, not everyone was able to receive an autograph as the session concluded after about an hour and a half. Merkel has additional signing events scheduled, including one in her old constituency of Stralsund on November 29 and another in Cologne on December 16, which has already sold out, according to her publisher Kiepenheuer & Witsch.
In addition to her appearances in the US, the 70-year-old is also slated to showcase her memoirs in several notable European cities, including Paris, Barcelona, Milan, and Amsterdam.