Choose Your Weapons: The British Foreign Secretary

(Paperback)

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Description

When writing his magnificent life of Robert Peel, Douglas Hurd found himself caught up again in a debate that has always fascinated him as a former diplomat and Foreign Secretary - the argument between the noisy popular liberal interventionist approach and the more conservative diplomatic approach concentrating on co-operation between other nations.

Hurd concentrates on personalities and circumstances, beginning with the dramatic antagonism after Waterloo between Canning (liberal, populist, interventionist) and Castlereagh (institutions, compromise, real politics) - the last occasion on which ministerial colleagues fought a duel. Other personalities include Palmerston vs Aberdeen; Disraeli and his old friend and Foreign Secretary, Lord Derby; Salisbury and Edward Grey; and Eden and Bevin, who combined with the Americans to create a post-war compromise, which is coming apart today in an era of terrorism and racial conflict.

Reviews

A book of authority and insight -- Dominic Sandbrook * SUNDAY TIMES *
Unexpectedly enjoyable...it's a spry account with some vivid vignettes. -- Ian Pindar * GUARDIAN *
A fascinating insight into the second most powerful job in British politics. * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *

Author Bio

Douglas Hurd was an MP from 1974 to 1997, he served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary. He is the (co-)author of many thrillers, his MEMOIRS and the highly acclaimed ROBERT PEEL.