First, his birth was illegitimate, so the records of his early life are either largely fictitious or non-existent. Second, because he was a whistleblower but relatively impecunious, he went to great lengths to cover his own literary tracks in order to safeguard his salaried income, so it is by no means easy to identify his writing, especially his newspaper articles. Third, because aristocrats both inside and outside the Foreign Office were desperate to contrive his downfall a whole raft of damaging myths was created about his official conduct and particular events in his life, and these have been constantly re-cycled – and inevitably embellished. … Finally, he left no personal collection of private papers – no private correspondence, no diaries, no unpublished memoirs…
Berridge closes his book with these words:Grenville-Murray’s ultimate misfortune was that his two great patrons, Dickens and Palmerston, tugged him in opposite directions: the former to the literary exposure of social evils, the latter to the important work of diplomacy. He was no saint but it remains to his credit that, despite the tension between them and the strain that simultaneously plying these two trades imposed on his family, he made such a valuable contribution to both over such a long period. He deserves a better place in history than that pegged on the lazy re-cycling of the myths that he was a ‘scurrilous’ journalist deservedly ‘horsewhipped’ by a nobleman he had offended.
Two observations about this lively chronicle of an extraordinary life in diplomacy and journalism: first, its contemporary relevance (you can’t help noticing the partial parallels with another equally talented Murray whose controversial diplomatic career was eventually terminated by a hostile and exasperated Foreign Office); and, secondly, what an excellent film could be made of Berridge’s book, one that would be exciting and funny in equal parts. Conversion of the text to a film script wouldn’t be exceptionally difficult. It might need a voice-over narrator for which Geoff Berridge’s own distinctive voice would be ideal. In the introduction to his book on his own website, Berridge sets out no fewer than 16 reasons for his decision to publish it as an ordinary PDF file on his website rather than submitting it to his publishers for publication as a book, whether in hard covers, as a paperback or as an e-book, or any combination of the three. All book publishers should take the precaution of thinking carefully about the professor’s 16 reasons, which have significant lessons for them. The downside seems to be the greater difficulty in spreading awareness of the existence of the book on a single semi-private website: very little chance of reviews in specialist or general interest journals or newspapers, no mentions in publishers’ lists or advertisements. It’s there, absolutely free and ready to be downloaded, but how many people know about it? It’s even quite easy to send it from one’s own computer to a Kindle, if you have a Kindle account, so that you can add it to your Kindle library to read on the train, or plane, or in your favourite Chinese restaurant when lunching or dining alone. So please heed this earnest plea: if you’re prompted by this to download and read A Diplomatic Whistleblower in the Victorian Era, and if you enjoy it as much as I did, spread the word about it, and send your friends and family without delay to https://grberridge.diplomacy.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/GrenvilleMurray.01.pdf. PS: Full disclosure: Geoff Berridge is an old friend. A few years ago I made some modest contributions as Editorial Consultant to the first edition of his extraordinarily useful and readable Dictionary of Diplomacy: please see the Preface to the First Edition in subsequent editions. More recently he has proved an excellent mentor and literary godfather helping in very many ways to bring my own first (and last) book, What Diplomats Do, into a not particularly startled world — please see https://www.barder.com/4229. Note: Review was first published on Brian Barder’s website and is reposted here with permission from the author. Review by Brian Barder
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The message summarizes the book "Getting Our Way: 500 Years of Adventure and Intrigue: The Inside Story of British Diplomacy.
A Diplomatic Whistleblower in the Victorian Era: The Life and Writings of E. C. Grenville-Murray, Second Edition (Revised) 2015
Unlike Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden, the most well-known whistleblowers of the present day, Eustace Clare Grenville-Murray (1823-1881), the illegitimate son of an English duke and an actress who was also a lover of Lord Palmerston, did not make public highly classified documents. Instead, while serving as a diplomat behind the fragile shield of anonymity, he employed satire and ridicule in books, periodicals, and newspapers to attack the aspects of diplomacy he disliked.
Misunderstood: The IT manager’s lament
Communication between information technologists and their clients – including diplomats - does not work as well as it should. We know that information technology has become ubiquitous. We also know that diplomats rely extensively on web services, electronic mail and documents in electronic form. Yet when communication does not work well, technologists poorly understand the needs of the diplomatic community. As a result, technical solutions may not address the real needs of end-users. This paper is a study on inter-professional miscommunication.
King Cotton Diplomacy: Foreign Relations of the Confederate States of America
The text discusses the foreign relations strategy of the Confederate States of America known as King Cotton Diplomacy, which aimed to leverage the economic power of cotton to gain support from European nations during the Civil War.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu: Comet of the Enlightenment
The text discusses Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's influential role in the Enlightenment period, emphasizing her advocacy for inoculation against smallpox. Her writings and personal experiences helped spread the practice across Europe and challenge prevailing medical beliefs.
Kautilya’s Arthasastra on war and diplomacy in Ancient India
Kautilya's Arthasastra offers insights into war and diplomacy in Ancient India, emphasizing strategic thinking, espionage, alliances, and statecraft.
International Diplomacy Volume III: The Pluralisation of Diplomacy
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Diplomacy and Secret Service
Intelligence officers working under diplomatic protection are rarely out of the news for long, and the last two years have been no exception. How did the relationship between diplomacy and secret intelligence come about? What was the impact on it of the bureaucratization of secret intelligence that began in the late nineteenth century? Is diplomatic immunity the only reason why intelligence officers still cluster in embassies and consulates today? What do their diplomatic landlords think about their secret tenants and how do the spooks repay the ambassadors for their lodgings? These are among ...
Nation, Class, and Diplomacy: The dragomanate of the British embassy in Constantinople, 1814-1914
In Markus Msslang and Torsten Riotte (eds.), The Diplomats’ World: A Cultural History of Diplomacy, 1815-1914 (Oxford University Press for the German Historical Institute, London: Oxford and New York, 2008), pp. 407-31
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Ask anyone who was the person that most influenced world history: few would mention Genghis Khan. Arguably, however, Genghis Khan and the Mongols were the dominant force that shaped Eurasia and consequently the modern world. Not for what they destroyed – though they wrought much destruction all over the continent – but for what they built. They came close to uniting Eurasia into a world empire, and in so doing they spread throughout it technologies like paper, gunpowder, paper money, or the compass – and trousers. They revolutionised warfare. More lastingly, in the words of the author: '...
Diplomacy in Ancient Greece
The text discusses ancient Greek diplomacy, highlighting the significance of alliances, treaties, and negotiations in maintaining peace and balance of power among city-states. It also mentions the practice of sending envoys to conduct diplomatic missions and the use of oratory skills to influence decisions in the Greek world. Diplomacy played a crucial role in managing conflicts, resolving disputes, and fostering relationships between city-states in Ancient Greece.
Politics and Diplomacy in Early Modern Italy: The structure of diplomatic practice, 1450-1800
This collection of essays, edited and well introduced by Daniela Frigo of the University of Trieste, reflects the comparatively recent rediscovery of interest in the diplomacy of their own peninsula by Italian historians. (The only non-Italian contributor is Christopher Storrs.) All of the essays are of a high standard and most contain much new research. Adrian Belton is, therefore, also to be congratulated for making them accessible to English readers by means of his excellent translation.
The Ambassadors and America’s Soviet Policy
The Ambassadors and America's Soviet Policy discusses the roles of three prominent American ambassadors in shaping U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union during the early Cold War period. These diplomats employed various strategies to navigate the complexities of Soviet-American relations, including engaging in diplomacy, intelligence gathering, and negotiation. Overall, their efforts helped influence U.S. foreign policy towards the Soviet Union and contributed to the eventual end of the Cold War.
US Public Diplomacy: A Cold War Success Story?
The post-'9/11' revival of interest in US public diplomacy encompasses a wide variety of opinions, all overwhelmingly critical.
Beyond diplomatic – the unravelling of history
In his paper, Robert Alston travels through time to rekindle an important highlight – as well as a personal highlight – in the history of knowledge management. His journey takes him back to the 1850s, which saw Antonio Panizzi’s efforts in creating a universal repository of knowledge in the British Museum; and to the 1990s, a time in which he acquired first-hand experience at the same museum, drawing conclusions on the various available ways of navigating large bibliographical and archival databases.
The Invisible Weapon: Telecommunications and International Politics 1851-1945
The text discusses the impact of telecommunications on international politics from 1851 to 1945.
Did diplomatic immunity exist in the ancient Near East?
The text discusses the concept of diplomatic immunity in the ancient Near East.
Finance, Trade and Politics in British Foreign Policy, 1815-1914
The text explores the interplay of finance, trade, and politics in British foreign policy from 1815 to 1914. It discusses how economic factors influenced decision-making and shaped diplomatic relations during this period.
The Beijing-Washington Back-Channel and Henry Kissinger’s Secret Trip to China
The text discusses the Beijing-Washington back-channel and Henry Kissinger's covert visit to China.
The Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State
The Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State explores the historical role of ambassadors, tracing their origins in ancient Greece through to the present day practices of representing nations on the international stage. The book delves into the evolution of diplomacy, the duties and responsibilities of ambassadors, as well as the impact they have had on shaping the relations between states throughout history. Through a detailed examination of the development of diplomatic protocols and practices, readers gain insight into the crucial role ambassadors play in promoting peace, resolvi...
British Diplomacy and the Descent into Chaos: The career of Jack Garnett, 1902-19
I am in favour of biographies of relatively obscure individuals like Jack Garnett because there are plenty of them on the famous; moreover, studies of this kind often turn up interesting details (including how the famous were seen from the foothills) and stimulate thought on bigger questions. John Fisher’s well written and thoroughly researched study of this early twentieth century British diplomat, into which contextual detail is expertly woven, is no exception.
The Office of Ambassador in the Middle Ages
The text discusses the role and responsibilities of an ambassador in the Middle Ages. It touches upon the importance of diplomatic skills, cultural awareness, and the power dynamics involved in representing a kingdom or ruler in foreign territories. The text emphasizes the ambassador's role in negotiation, communication, and fostering positive relationships to advance their country's interests.
Ellsworth Bunker: Global Troubleshooter, Vietnam Hawk
The message focuses on the life and career of Ellsworth Bunker, depicting him as a global troubleshooter and a Vietnam Hawk.
Years of Upheaval
The text discusses the challenges and changes experienced over several years.
Under the Wire: How the Telegraph Changed Diplomacy
Review by Geoff Berridge
Twentieth-Century Diplomacy: A Case Study of British Practice, 1963-1976
Some years ago, John Young, Professor of International History at the University of Nottingham and long-serving Chair of the British International History Group, turned his thoughts and research in the direction of diplomatic procedure. This is the first monograph to be the product of his shift in direction and it is to be most warmly welcomed. It is original in focus, impeccably researched (private papers and oral history transcripts have been sifted as well official documents in The National Archives), crisply written, and altogether a major contribution to the contemporary history of diplom...
Notes on the origins of the diplomatic corps: Constantinople in the 1620s
The diplomatic corps in Constantinople during the 1620s played a crucial role in diplomatic activities, managing relationships with foreign powers, facilitating negotiations, and gathering intelligence. The ambassadors stationed there were required to navigate complex political landscapes, cultural differences, and personal rivalries. This era marked the beginning of professionalized diplomacy, where ambassadors were trained in the art of negotiation and represented their countries' interests with skill and tact.
The post-modern state and the world order
1989 marked a break in European history. What happened in 1989 went beyond the events of 1789, 1815 or 1919. These dates, like 1989, stand for revolutions, the break-up of empires and the re-ordering of spheres of influence. But these changes took place within the established framework of the balance of power and the sovereign independent state. 1989 was different. In addition to the dramatic changes of that year – the revolutions and the re-ordering of alliances – it marked an underlying change in the European state system itself. To put it crudely, what happened in 1989 was not jus...
Philosophy of Rhetoric
The author introduces a series of Essays on Rhetoric, explaining their origins and interconnection. This work has been a lifelong pursuit since 1750 and is structured based on a plan laid out in the first two chapters.
Room for Diplomacy: The history of Britain’s diplomatic buildings overseas, 1800-2000
Mark Bertram joined the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works after reading architecture at Cambridge and remained in the civil service as architect, project manager, administrator, estate manager and – in his own words – ‘quasi diplomat’ for the next thirty years.
The Cinderella Service: British Consuls since 1825
The British Consul Service has evolved over the years since 1825, adapting to modern times while maintaining its traditional values and responsibilities.
Tilkidom and the Ottoman Empire: The Letters of Gerald Fitzmaurice to George Lloyd, 1906-15
Gerald Henry Fitzmaurice was Chief Dragoman at the British Embassy in Constantinople before the First World War and George Ambrose Lloyd was a young Honorary Attaché based in the Embassy from the autumn of 1905 until the end of 1906. In Gerald Fitzmaurice (1865-1939), which leans heavily on the private letters that Fitzmaurice wrote to Lloyd between 1906 and 1915, I describe the ups and downs of the close friendship which developed between them. I also deal more or less fully with many of the subjects raised in the letters. Why, then, publish them separately?
The Washington Embassy: British ambassadors to the United States, 1939-77
The Washington Embassy: British ambassadors to the United States from 1939 to 1977 examines the role and impact of British ambassadors in the United States during this time period.
The Argentine seizure of the Malvinas [Falkland] Islands: History and Diplomacy
The Argentine seizure of the Malvinas [Falkland] Islands is a historical event that involves complex diplomatic implications.
Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities
The text discusses the distinctions between privileges, immunities, and facilities in the context of diplomatic relations. It explains how privileges exempt diplomats from certain laws, while immunities protect them from legal processes in the receiving state. Diplomatic facilities are provided to aid in the duties of diplomatic missions. The history of diplomatic privileges and immunities is traced from ancient times to modern diplomacy, highlighting the role these concepts play in international relations. The text also touches on the evolution of diplomatic practices, from the Renaissance to...
Amarna Diplomacy: The Beginnings of International Relations
The text discusses the emergence of diplomatic relationships during the Amarna period, highlighting how this era marked the start of international relations.
A Diplomat in Japan
The first portion of this book was written at intervals between 1885 and 1887, during my tenure of the post of Her Majesty's minister at Bangkok. I had but recently left Japan after a residence extending, with two seasons of home leave, from September 1862 to the last days of December 1882, and my recollection of what had occurred during any part of those twenty years was still quite fresh. A diary kept almost uninterruptedly from the day I quitted home in November 1861 constituted the foundation, while my memory enabled me to supply additional details. It had never been my purpose to...
In Confidence: Moscow’s Ambassador to Six Cold War Presidents
The book "In Confidence: Moscow's Ambassador to Six Cold War Presidents" gives an inside look at diplomatic relations during the Cold War by sharing the experiences of Moscow's ambassador to the United States.
The languages of the Knights
Part of Language and Diplomacy (2001): In his examination of the languages used by the Knights of St John in Rhodes and Malta during the 14th to 16th centuries, Professor Joseph Brincat applies the methodology of historical linguistics. As an international and multi-lingual entity, the Order faced difficulties with its administrative methods intimately linked to linguistic issues.
Public diplomacy: Sunrise of an academic field
The text discusses the emergence and growth of public diplomacy as a field of study within academia.
Japanese middle-power diplomacy
In the realm of international relations, Japan engages in middle-power diplomacy, showcasing its influence and capabilities while fostering beneficial relationships on the global stage.
The British Interests Section in Kampala, 1976-7
The message below provides an overview of the activities and challenges faced by the British Interests Section in Kampala between 1976 and 1977.
Bertie of Thame: Edwardian Ambassador
Explore the life of Bertie of Thame, an Edwardian ambassador, to gain insights into his diplomatic achievements and the impact he had on international relations during his time.
Machiavelli’s Legations
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The Power of Small States: Diplomacy in World War II
This Is an inquiry into how the governments of small and militarily weak states can resist the strong pressure of great powers even in crisis periods. The continued existence and, in deed, startling increase in the number of small states may seem paradoxical in the age of superpowers and the drastically altered ratio of military strength between them and the rest of the world. It is well known that the ability to use violence does not alone determine the course of world politics. Some of the other determinants can be observed with exceptional clarity in the diplomacy of the small ...
Strategic Public Diplomacy: The Evolution of Influence
Strategic Public Diplomacy: The Evolution of Influence" explores the development of public diplomacy strategies, focusing on their impact and evolution over time.
