Anna Bayern’s biography of Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg did much to elevate his political persona during Guttenberg’s whirlwind introduction to German federal politics. Now the young baron is about to promote the release of a book of his own authorship in collaboration with a leading journalist from Time magazine. The book apparently gives Guttenberg’s version of events from the time he was launched into German politics to the time of the liberal push to eliminate him from the Berlin political scene.

The book is largely based on an interview by Time editor in chief Giovanni di Lorenzo. The release date is November 29, falling less than a week from Guttenberg’s first public appearance since his political demise. During last weekend’s Halifax-based International Security Conference, Guttenberg acquitted himself well while fielding questions as part of a high-profile panel discussing European and global trends resulting from the euro crisis in particular.

According to the book’s German publisher, Herder, in addition to giving Guttenberg’s personal account of his short initial tour within Berlin politics, it is an account “also about the great issues of the day: the poor state of German politics and political parties and what should be done about it, the power and the mechanisms of the media, as well as recommended steps in European and foreign policy” (Bild.de, November 22; translation ours).

In all of this there is more than a mere hint that Guttenberg is intent on returning to the German political scene as soon as his name is cleared. In fact, even the book’s title betrays that intention. The title Vorerst Gescheitert may be rendered in English as Temporary Failure or even Failed at the First Attempt.

With German media giving high profile to Guttenberg’s return to the spotlight in Halifax in addition to the pending return of his wife as a tv personality now added to the publicizing of his book—all happening within days—indications are that Guttenberg’s “failure” will be of very short duration indeed.

But our regular readers would know that is what we expected all along.

Read our booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire for an idea as to why we have followed this man’s political career closely.