As a high-ranking American diplomat during the Cold War, Martin J. Hillenbrand was witness to some of the most exciting moments in twentieth-century history. Fragments of Our Time is a richly detailed, gracefully written account of a career that spanned seven presidencies and more than half a century. After stints in Asia and Africa, the bulk of Hillenbrand's career was spent in Europe. He recounts with authority his experiences in postwar Germany, involvement in the Cuban missile crisis, appointment as the first American ambassador to Hungary, and posting as assistant secretary of state for European affairs and ambassador to Germany. Hillenbrand writes with a keen wit and discerning eye of the people and events that shaped contemporary American foreign policy.