Living the Cold War: Memoirs of a British Diplomat

The centrepiece of this memoir by Sir Christopher Mallaby, former British Ambassador in Germany and France, is the unification of Germany in 1990, the culmination of years of work by Sir Christopher and his colleagues. He held different views from the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. He saw unification as the key to ending the Cold War with a peaceful victory for the West and the liberation of millions in eastern and central Europe from Soviet control. She disliked the Germans and opposed unification. Christopher Mallaby writes vividly of many other people, places and events. He and his wife were a young couple in Moscow during the Cuba crisis, and knew they might be destroyed by American nuclear weapons. He explains why Khrushchev took such a huge risk and why he yielded to President Kennedy. 'Living the Cold War' describes the work of diplomats and leaders on many other fronts, from dealing with the threat of the Soviet Union to Britain’s attempt to persuade Argentina to withdraw peacefully from the Falklands. The author brings different experiences alive, including the KGB’s harassment of diplomats in Moscow and the fascination of his time as Ambassador in France. In doing so, he shows what diplomats can really achieve. He mixes amusing incidents with an insider's insights on crucial world events.

About the Author :
Sir Chrisopher Mallaby joined the UK Diplomatic Service from Cambridge University in 1959. He was British Ambassador to Germany 1988-92, British Ambassador to France 1993-96 and Managing Director of UBS Investment Bank. He has served as Chairman of Somerset House Trust from 2002–2006, as a Trustee of the Tate Gallery Group 1996-2002, and as Trustee Director and Deputy-Chairman of Reuters. Peter Hennessy (Baron Hennessy of Nympsfield) is Attlee Professor of History at Queen Mary College, London. His books include 'The Secret State: Whitehall and the Cold War' (Penguin, 2003).

Review :
"Diplomacy is an art form, and Christopher Mallaby is a master of it. He not only served his country well – he served the wider interest too. In describing events now gone, he sets an example for events yet to come." "Some people's memoirs describe history. Others, like this author, have lived history. Christopher Mallaby was a key insider at crucial events in the Cold War and its aftermath. This fascinating account of some of the late twentieth century’s most pivotal moments gives new, very personal insights into the dramas of the East-West confrontation. This a highly readable and very important book." "From the Cuban Missile Crisis to German Unification, Christopher Mallaby witnessed and then shaped many of the key political events of the second half of the twentieth century. His elegant memoir is lucid in its analysis and wise in its judgments. As someone who worked for him, that was no surprise. For me, though, the most compelling chapters were at the beginning, writing with restrained passion about his family: I learned what shaped the character of a great public servant."