Customer Reviews

Accidental Diplomat

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This book caused a good deal of controversy at the time of it's release for several reasons, the foremost being that it let the cat out of the bag regarding Irish Diplomatic maneuvers on the Nothern question. Having read it, I can see why. It would certainly confirm unionists fears of the Good Friday Agreement as being nationalist re-union be stealth. Not particularly smart to let the cat out of the bag with a political process that is still in flux and is by no way conluded. But then one ambassador did describ Mr. Delaney post publication as "a treacherous little B'strd".

The mid section of the book dealing with his time in New York is excellent. He warmly captures the essence of hiberno-americana with genuine empathy and not a hint of condescension or cliche in sight. There are the endless rubber chicken galas that must be attended and an almost wistful desciption of the '50s tightly knit emigrant culture that is slowly dying off.

The latter section in dealing with anglo-irish affairs, for all it's revelations, does lag. Perhaps the machinations are just too complex to be trotted out with a light touch?

It is clear though in his writings that the mandarins that make up the Foreign Service are of the most formidable intellect and capability.

It is left quite vague as to why he left the service in the end.

As might be said by one of our sports pundits on this sie of the water, "A good book, but not a great book".