Dr Robert Morton is a professor at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan. He is the author of the prize-winning A.B. Mitford and the Birth of Japan as a Modern State and A Life of Sir Harry Parkes.

• Introduction Chapter One - A Young Man in a Hurry, London – Hexham – Paris, 1809–1828 Chapter Two - Perseverance, courage and fortitude of conduct, Portugal – Spain, 1831–1838 Chapter Three - Highly qualified for any professional situation, London, 1838–1844 Chapter Four - The most able of our Consuls in China, Amoy – Fuzhou, 1844–1846 Chapter Five - Acting with promptness and decision, Shanghai, 1846-1853 Chapter Six - Desolation around and about me, Shanghai – England – Guangzhou, 1853–1859 Chapter Seven - I can hardly say I am disappointed, Edo, 1859–1862 Chapter Eight - The scum of the earth, Yokohama, 1859–1862 Chapter Nine - A hundred petty acts of annoyance, Edo – Yokohama, 1859–1862 Chapter Ten - Sir Rutherford, 1862–1864, London Chapter Eleven - My service in the East thus terminates, Yokohama, 1864 Chapter Twelve - There is so much to fear and so little to hope, Beijing, 1865–1870 Chapter Thirteen - A Distinct and Disastrous Sacrifice of British Interests, Beijing, 1865–1870 Chapter Fourteen - Savourer the dignity of his position, 1870–1897, London Afterword Notes Bibliography Acknowledgements Index