Books by Douglas Hurd
Choose Your Weapons
by Douglas Hurd
Coming out in paper back at the end of January
In choosing your weapons Hurd is referring to the Castlereagh-Canning duel at the beginning of the 19th century, which he uses as a symbol of the duel between principle and realpolitik…You can choose which side of the camp you come from, but if you’re sensible, whichever side of the camp you come from, you’ll end up in the same place – of sensible policy.
The Search for Peace
by Douglas Hurd
Quite comprehensive and authoritative, it’s a bit of a modern primer, which explains the techniques of bilateral diplomacy as well as multilateral diplomacy, and really deals with the failures and successes of the last century. The spirit informing the book is that, ultimately, the diplomats have to find ways of heading off those worst outcomes.
Interviews with Douglas Hurd
The Best British Political Biographies, recommended by Douglas Hurd
The former British foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd, recommends five highly readable political biographies, looking at the lives of some of Britain’s best-known prime ministers of the last 150 years.
Interviews where books by Douglas Hurd were recommended
The best books on The Thrill of Diplomacy, recommended by Mike Maclay
Former British diplomat Mike Maclay chooses five books on the glamour, the reality and the future of the people trained in the canny art of diplomacy
The best books on Diplomacy, recommended by Jeremy Greenstock
The veteran British diplomat Jeremy Greenstock talks about the history and future of diplomacy. On Iraq: ‘The magnificent work that was done was largely wasted, and lives with it – both Iraqi and outsiders’
