Review

From The Publisher
John Colvin's career as one of Her Majesty's Representatives in Foreign Parts never scaled the greatest heights of the ambassadorial ladder but it did lead to two highly unusual postings, of which he tells most vividly in this book. In 1966 he was sent to Hanoi in North Vietnam at the time when the war began to assume its full rigor. It was a lonely job, but, as one can read between the lines, he had the inner resources to cope with his uncomfortable situation, diverting himself, among other things, by pursuing his interest in oriental ceramics. His account of life in the beleaguered city is certainly remarkable, but more so perhaps is his surprising conclusion that the Americans certainly did not leave Indo-China without credit or achievement. This controversial verdict, which flies in the face of received opinion and coming from one so close to the center of the storm, is bound to raise not a few eyebrows. In 1971 Colvin was sent, with his wife and two small children, as Ambassador to the People's Republic of Mongolia, (Outer Mongolia). His memories of that remote but lovely country, which dwell as much upon topographical as political aspects, provide a fascinating insight into life in a then Russian "satellite" state far removed from the center of world affairs. One can well understand how he and his family soon came to fall in love with this apparently cold and hostile environment. The contrast between Hanoi and Ulan Bator could hardly be greater--not merely in temperature. But Colvin managed to thrive in both and his lively account of life in these different, difficult and distant environments is that of a cheerful, witty, erudite and supremely civilized man.

Table of Contents

	Part One
I	Appointment to Hanoi	3
II	Vietnam in History	7
III	Saigon and the South	14
IV	The Journey to Hanoi	23
V	Arrival at Hanoi	32
VI	Dealing with the Vietnamese	41
VII	Colleagues	51
VIII	The Daily Round	60
IX	Around Town and Out of It	69
X	City Life	78
XI	North Vietnamese Intentions	83
XII	American Intentions	89
XIII	Bombing: the Beginning	96
XIV	Bombing: the Continuation	103
XV	Victory Apparent	113
XVI	Victory Spurned	117
	Part Two
I	En Route for Ulan Bator	125
II	Arrival	130
III	First Impressions	137
IV	Life in the Capital	143
V	The Open Road	147
VI	Mongolia in History	157
VII	Colleagues and Friends	162
VIII	The Western Provinces	169
IX	Officials and Others	180
X	Journeys to China	185
XI	Mongolia in the World	188
XII	Further Travels	191
XIII	The Last Journey	199
XIV	Envoi	208
	Index	211