Peace Makers

'A fascinating and highly readable account of how the Foreign Office helped turned wartime victory into postwar peace, full of vivid quotes from the men and women - yes, lots of women - who served their country in little-known ways.'Prof. David Reynolds, Cambridge University'This wonderfully written book by Peter Ricketts about the war service of so many dedicated men and women in the British Foreign Office places them at long last where they rightly belong - in the pantheon of British 2nd world war heroes.'Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell ‘Peace Makers is a brilliant inside job. Who better than a former Permanent Secretary to take us on a riveting tour of the Foreign Office at war? He blends policy, personalities, themes, episodes and vignettes with his insider's feel. His cast of smooth operators, brilliant eccentrics, pioneering women and brave staff at all levels is truly inspiring.'Prof. Peter Hennessy'A fascinating account of the ingenuity and courage required of diplomats in wartime and a reminder that working an embassy can bring great dangers. Peter Ricketts has filled an important gap in our history and demonstrated that many of the men and women of the foreign office made outstanding contributions to their country’s survival in the Second World War.' Lord Hague'Well-researched and enthralling, Peter Ricketts brings the wartime Foreign Office to life. A fascinating account of Britain's too often neglected diplomats at war.' Tim BouveriePeace Makers tells the overlooked story of the British Foreign Office during World War II, revealing the vital role diplomats played in securing both victory and the peace that followed. While military exploits and Churchill’s leadership dominate history books, it was the men and women of the Foreign Office who forged alliances, supported resistance movements, managed refugee crises, and laid the groundwork for the post-war international order.From the rooftops of Whitehall during the Blitz to embassies under siege across Europe and Asia, diplomats and their families demonstrated extraordinary resilience and ingenuity. They evacuated civilians, backed resistance networks, gathered intelligence, and waged battles of persuasion in neutral capitals. Some endured years apart from home; others, like staff in Tokyo, survived internment. Figures such as Archibald Clark Kerr in Moscow and Sir Alexander Cadogan in London steered critical alliances and helped shape the world to come.The war also transformed the Foreign Office itself, opening doors to women and candidates from broader backgrounds. Pioneers like Freya Stark, Nancy Lambton, and Elizabeth Wiskemann paved the way for women to rise to senior diplomatic ranks. The only surviving member of the wartime Foreign Office tells for the first time her vivid story of travels with Anthony Eden to the great wartime Summits.The men and women of the Foreign Office were central to both victory and peace. Facing extraordinary danger, isolation, and uncertainty, their courage and foresight helped shape the modern international order. As the world confronts new disorder, the lessons of these wartime peace makers are as vital today as they were then.