First published 1968
George Kennan opens his government service as a young Foreign Service officer in the 1920s. He navigates the complex world of international diplomacy through the Great Depression, World War II, and the early Cold War. Kennan witnesses firsthand the evolution of American foreign relations as the United States transforms from an isolationist nation into a global superpower. He grapples with policy decisions that shape four decades of international affairs. His service takes him through critical moments in history where personal conviction meets political necessity. The memoir reveals how one diplomat's perspective influenced major shifts in U.S. strategy during some of the most turbulent years of the twentieth century.
Genres: history, 20th-century, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, personal-journey
Setting: United States
Period: 1925-1950
583 pages · Paperback · Hutchinson