First published 2027
Aleksandar Hemon arrives at the United Nations headquarters in New York City carrying complicated feelings about the institution. The UN's failures during the Bosnian War left deep scars, yet he recognizes how the organization frames crimes against humanity. As the first writer in residence, Hemon gains rare access to the secretary-general, General Assembly, and Security Council. He moves through corridors of power alongside photographer Peter van Agtmael, observing an institution torn between its noble Charter and messy reality. The people he encounters smoke cigarettes, share gossip, and navigate their own frustrations with the world's resistance to peace. They arrive each morning determined to achieve ambitious goals despite knowing the odds. Hemon watches brilliant minds clash with petty politics while humanity's most inspiring principles collide with human nature itself.
Genres: international-relations, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: United Nations, New York City
Period: Bosnian War
224 pages · Hardcover · MCD