Chapters in this book

1. Front matter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface vii
4. Abbreviations viii
5. Introduction 1
6. Part I: The structure of a service 17
7. 1 Why diplomacy? 21
8. 2 Entrance, training and promotion 41
9. 3 Family, sex and marriage 62
10. Part II: Of cabbages and kings 87
11. 4 Etiquette and ‘face’ 91
12. 5 Favourites and flunkeys 106
13. 6 Gossips, networks and news 124
14. Part III: Beyond the call of duty 149
15. 7 The Grand Tour 151
16. 8 From ancients to moderns 167
17. 9 War, ethnography and religion 188
18. Conclusion 211
19. Appendix A Male diplomats, 1750–1830 219
20. Appendix B Female diplomats, 1750–1830 227
21. Select primary source bibliography 232
22. Index 239