Shaking My Briefcase By Alan Charlton Paperback 1785890220 9781785890222 Shaking My Briefcase “Somehow the mantra became that I went to the embassy to shake my briefcase.” Alan Charlton couldnt describe diplomacy to his small children beyond saying he went to the Embassy to shake his briefcase. His new autobiography tells stories about his career in foreign affairs. Shaking my Briefcase explores the serious and comical sides of Alan’s life as a British diplomat in the Middle East, Germany, the Home Front (including peace negotiations on Former Yugoslavia), the United States and Brazil. He learned Arabic and was posted first to Jordan, where he supported the Queen’s ground breaking visit in 1984. He was then Israel desk officer in the Foreign Office, where he was also involved with the British hostages in Lebanon. He served in Berlin before, during and after the Fall of the Wall and met Rudolf Hess. He was Deputy Chief of the Cabinet Office Assessments Staff during the Iraq Kuwait war before his toughest assignment, working on Former Yugoslavia including at the Dayton Peace talks in 1995. After spells back in Germany as Deputy Head of Mission and as HR Director in the Foreign Office, he concluded his career as Deputy Head of Mission in Washington and finally British Ambassador to Brazil. Shaking my Briefcase will appeal to anyone who enjoys a stimulating autobiography including fascinating stories and a twist of humour. It will also appeal to those interested in diplomacy and some of the key foreign affairs’ issues of our time.

There was one portion of the book that was a bit tedious to me It s the part on the Bosnian conflict The reason it was tedious is that I have never really understood in sufficient depth the key ethnic issues and demographics surrounding the Bosnian conflict 9781785890222

Shaking My Briefcase By Alan Charlton

1785890220

9781785890222

English

300

Paperback

Somehow the mantra became that I went to the embassy to shake my briefcase Alan Charlton couldn t describe diplomacy to his small children beyond saying he went to the Embassy to shake his briefcase His new autobiography tells stories about his career in foreign affairs Shaking my Briefcase explores the serious and comical sides of Alan s life as a British diplomat in the Middle East.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book Most of it is a page turner I think anyone with even a little bit of interest in a behind the scenes look at the life of a career diplomat would enjoy this book I have had the honor of meeting the author of the book and attending several lectures by him I have an autographed copy of Shaking My Briefcase. All that said Germany the Home Front including peace negotiations on Former Yugoslavia the United States and Brazil He learned Arabic and was posted first to Jordan where he supported the Queen s ground breaking visit in 1984 He was then Israel desk officer in the Foreign Office where he was also involved with the British hostages in Lebanon He served in Berlin before during and after the Fall of the Wall and met Rudolf Hess He was Deputy Chief of the Cabinet Office Assessments Staff during the Iraq Kuwait war before his toughest assignment working on Former Yugoslavia including at the Dayton Peace talks in 1995 After spells back in Germany as Deputy Head of Mission and as HR Director in the Foreign Office he concluded his career as Deputy Head of Mission in Washington and finally British Ambassador to Brazil Shaking my Briefcase will appeal to anyone who enjoys a stimulating autobiography including fascinating stories and a twist of humour It will also appeal to those interested in diplomacy and some of the key foreign affairs issues of our time Shaking My Briefcase.