Sir John Ure's collection provides an account of diplomatic life as seen by the diplomats themselves. Included are coups and disasters, gaffes of protocol and great moments of history - as seen through the eyes of those who have been in the right place at the right time. Ranging from the age of Ivan the terrible to that of Saddam Hussein, we meet amongst others Connolly and Stoddart in their dungeon in Bokhura, Dr Kissinger palying ping-pong diplomacy with Chou En-lai and the valet of the British Ambassador in Ankra offering the germans the advance plans of the D-Day landings.