Like a tragic hero, Angela Merkel brought about the ruin of everything she sought to build.

The word “inspiring” is overused when it comes to politicians’ life trajectories, but the upward arch of Merkel’s career certainly qualifies. From humble East German scholar, to key aide to Helmut Kohl, the formidable statesman who was instrumental in Germany’s reunification, to Germany’s paramount leader, seemingly invincible until she was recently forced to give up her post as head of Germany’s ruling CDU party.