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Ever the Diplomat: Confessions of a Foreign Office Mandarin

Confessions of a Foreign Office Mandarin

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Ever the Diplomat: Confessions of a Foreign Office Mandarin

By: Sherard Cowper-Coles
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About this listen

In this entertaining and engaging memoir, former ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles lifts the lid on embassy life throughout the world.

For over 30 years Sherard Cowper-Coles was on the diplomatic front line in a distinguished Foreign Office career that took him from the corridors of power in Whitehall to a string of high-profile posts across the globe.

Entering the Foreign Office fresh from Oxford in 1977, he enjoyed a meteoric rise with postings in Beirut, Alexandria and Cairo, Washington, and Paris, and working on Hong Kong, punctuated with spells in London, where the young diplomat had a baptism of fire writing foreign affairs speeches for Geoffrey Howe and Margaret Thatcher.

In 1999, he was made Principal Private Secretary to the irascible Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, providing the book with some of its most hilarious sequences, and his glittering career culminated in a succession of ambassadorial posts as Our Man in Israel, Saudi Arabia and finally Afghanistan.

‘Ever the Diplomat’ is his revealing, passionate and witty account of half a lifetime in diplomacy, which is set to become a classic of the genre.

 20th Century Historical Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Middle East Funny Witty Iran War Military Africa Saudi Arabia

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Critic reviews

Reviews for Cables from Kabul:

‘The clearest, best informed, and most honest account yet of why and how Britain was drawn deeper and deeper into the Afghan war, by the man who knows more about it than just about anyone else. If you want to understand what really happened, you absolutely have to read this book.’
John Simpson

‘Unquestionably the most important record yet of the diplomatic wrangling that has accompanied the slow military encirclement of western forces in Afghanistan. Extraordinary’ William Dalrymple, Observer

‘Vividly portrays the plight of an envoy who really cared about his brief, and felt unable to keep silent about looming failure in a vital region where western intervention has been bungled’ Max Hastings, Sunday Times

‘A highly readable and witty account by one of our most dynamic and impressive diplomats’ Daily Telegraph
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Most relevant
The author reads this audio book - I am often a bit hesitant to buy downloads when the author reads their own book; so many are really bad. This one is OK. I would have preferred a professional reader but he has a nice if rather soporific voice. He doesn't ruin it.

There is no 'story'. It is just an autobiographical account of some of his career as a senior diplomat. The times through which he served are part of my own history so his accounts are interesting. They shed some extra light, albeit that diplomats are rarely 'makers' or doers, they are facilitators or just scribes, really. Still, I most enjoyed the bits about Hong Kong and his time working for Robin Cook.

I suppose I was expecting more humour and perhaps a bit more indiscretion. But it was often very grim, and he is evidently far too diplomatic to gossip, so that may have been my fault. Mostly it is an easy-going, easy-paced tour of duty.

Interesting. No Gossip Though! Very Diplomatic...

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I enjoyed this book but the first quarter is a little light in detail, maybe the author should not have read his words because his monotone voice detracts from his clear understanding and compassion for the duties of the FCO.

Ever the civil servant

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Just as a good diplomat should be, the author delivers his observations, anecdotes and facts in a well modulated, perfectly enunciated voice. Persuasive and engaging, he tells us the tale of his recruitment into and passage through the Foreign and Commonwealth cadre of ambassadorial staff with wit and charm. Where he has failed to agree with his political masters or foreign hosts he informs us both suavely and directly. He leaves any criticism to emerge from our own assessments of the scenes and actions he describes.

Top class. In every sense. I only wish the book had been longer, but I suppose there is only so much that can happen in even the most varied diplomatic career; and for a true diplomat there is only a fraction that can be told.

Charming and informative

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If you interested in modern diplomacy and history that's unfolded in our lifetime I think look no further. It's easy listening, engaging and you may find yourself wanting more at the end of it.

Insights and stories worth listening to

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I was hoping for an interesting ride through this former diplomat's working life experiences. I was drawn into choosing this title by the promise of that...But hey! Boy, I've rarely, if ever, been so sorely disappointed by the reality of awful narration as I was by this posh guy, notwithstanding his formerly elevated status.

His delivery of the story is totally ghastly, it is monotonous in the extreme, to the nth degree. It is unbelievably boring to listen to his very drawly voice drag you painfully forward through the account. I simply couldn't hack it any loner after getting through merely a couple of hours' listening to this author. I have given up with him, and will now delete the book from my Audible library. Please DO NOT put ytourselves through literary PURGATORY - choose something else that you know you will enjoy!

Absolutely woeful narration - leave well a,lone!

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