Undiplomatic Activities, by Richard Woolcott

Richard Wollcott is a well known Australian diplomat. He has authored an autobiography, and decided to write this slim volume as a sort of humourous footnote or companion to the autobiography.

Woolcott writes exceptionally well. The extract he provides from his famous Liberian Dispatch, a humourous sketch on his (un)diplomatic activities in Liberia, reads like something out of a Ronald Firbank novel.

This is not deep or penetrating stuff. It's more a light, fluffy dessert. Those who follow and read about politics will find themselves chuckling away into the midnight hours with this charmingly civilized book.