Lessons from the Edge: A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch. Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Russian studies from Princeton University. She studied at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, and then was awarded a Master of Science degree from the National Defense University’s National War College.
Marie served the State Department as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2004–2005), Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2005–2008), Ambassador to Armenia (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (2012–2013), and finally Ambassador to Ukraine (2016–2019). Today Marie is a diplomat in residence at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University.
The early chapters introduce Marie’s family in Russia. After resettling in Canada, Marie traces her early life and education. This book is certainly providing a reader with the understanding of the US Diplomatic life. This also includes her early diplomatic assignments in Somalia, Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. At the same time, Marie was confronting bias all along her career. There are stark parallel lines to Fiona Hill’s book There is Nothing For You Here. There are many striking parallel lines between Marie and Fiona.