'An honorary consul should be a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip' - Anon. In these illuminating memoirs, Antony McCammon recounts his experiences as British Honorary Consul in Zurich, a post which he occupied for eleven years. With his background as a banker, McCammon reveals the workings of diplomacy through an unusual perspective in which his proximity to key diplomats and political figures such as Edward Heath gives readers unique behind-the-scenes access to power. With his knowledge of Swiss banking, combined with astute political insights, wit and anecdotes, McCammon presents to us the reality beneath the workings of British diplomacy in the context of Switzerland. With an unparalleled understanding of the day to day interactions between consulates and their host countries, from overzealous bureaucracy to matters of strict confidentiality, McCammon presents a unique story.
When he attended the UNCED Earth Summit in 1992, McCammon was told by a senior Swiss diplomat that all negations took place behind closed doors - closed doors behind which an embarrassed George Bush Senior sat across from an equally uncomfortable Fidel Castro, whilst 'militant' NGOS protested outside. Through these memoirs, readers are taken into this intricate world of bi-lateral talks, secrecy and protocol. From Swiss banking to microfinance, a topic which McCammon effectively analyses in describing his encounter with Mohammed Yunus, McCammon provides a nuanced and knowledgeable insight into global finance, presenting a remarkably honest perspective on a world which few know well.