This is an auction for UNDIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES by Richard Woolcott.

Illustrations throughout by David Rowe, editorial cartoonist for The Australian Financial Review.

"Based on an extraordinary career that spanned the second half of the 20th century, this witty compendium of anecdotes and tall tales combined with political cartoons provides a light-hearted look at the world of international diplomacy. Through a variety of reminiscences, the lives of diplomats are shown to have more than their fair share of absurdity and high comedy. Required not only to sacrifice a settled home and family life in the service of their country, they must also heroically offer up their livers to booze, their stomachs to endless official dinners, their integrity to dangerous liaisons and the weasel-art of spin, and their sanity to the pomposity and weird protocols that are part and parcel of the international scene. From the heady negotiations of global statecraft to the petty and labyrinthine politics of ministers and mandarins, this collection depicts a hilarious and insightful tour of duty in the diplomatic world."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richard Woolcott is a former secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has held diplomatic posts in Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the United Nations. He is a regular media commentator and the author of his autobiography, The Hot Seat: Reflections on Diplomacy from Stalin's Death to the Bali Bombings.

Hardback 2007.

200 pages.

New condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95 (ordinary post) or $6.95 (tracked mail). If you are on rural delivery and want tracked mail, the shipping cost will be $9.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please. seven days, please. .