Reviews
"David Mayers's enjoyable, stimulating book brings America's Ambassadorialsaga in Moscow vividly to life, creating at the same time a significant newdimension in Cold War history."--Fraser J. Harbutt, Emory University, "A superbly written and well-researched history of the men who served as U.S. ambassadors to the Soviet Union. Compelling portraits of Kennan, Charles Bohlen, Averell Harriman, William Bullitt, Thomas Watson Jr., and Jack Matlock fill this volume, helping the reader (perhaps for the firsttime) really begin to understand the complexities of dealing with the Soviet leadership. This detailed study moves swiftly in the telling and will more than likely be considered the standard work on the subject for years to come. Highly recommended."--Library Journal, "A superbly written and well-researched history of the men who served asU.S. ambassadors to the Soviet Union. Compelling portraits of Kennan, CharlesBohlen, Averell Harriman, William Bullitt, Thomas Watson Jr., and Jack Matlockfill this volume, helping the reader (perhaps for the first time) really beginto understand the complexities of dealing with the Soviet leadership. Thisdetailed study moves swiftly in the telling and will more than likely beconsidered the standard work on the subject for years to come. Highlyrecommended."--Library Journal, "In this fascinating study Mayers explores the perspectives and experiences of the various American ambassadors to Moscow and in the process sheds new light not only on the content of America's foreign policy, but also on its implementation."--Wilson D. Miscamble, CSC, University of NotreDame, "As a study of ambassadorial diplomacy, this highly informative, judiciousvolume analyzes the long, often agonizing relations between two countries thatAlexis de Tocqueville once predicted would each control half the world. Thevolume offers a highly insightful evaluation not only of all the Americans, fromJohn Quincy Adams to Robert Strauss, who represented the United States in St.Petersburg and Moscow, but also of the changing, sometimes bewildering,environment in which they labored. In a fitting conclusion the author evaluatesthe art of diplomacy as practiced by his ambassadors."--Norman A. Graebner,University of Virginia, "This highly original study of the United States Embassy in Moscow in themodern period and the diplomacy of its chiefs--Bullitt, Davies, Harriman,Kennan, Thompson and Matlock--throws new light on the formation and execution ofAmerican policy toward the Soviet Union. It also makes a strong case for theimportance of ambassadorial diplomacy in an age in which it is too oftensuperseded by foreign ministers, special envoys, and heads of state. Animportant and very readable book, which is also in part a cautionarytale."--Gordon A. Craig, Stanford University, "The stringency of its argument and the quality of its documentation, as well as the elegance of its writing, make this an essential book for those interested not only in the history of American-Soviet relations, but in the ongoing dynamics of diplomacy."-- Dr. Erik Goldstein, University ofBirmingham, "Cool, imaginative, and perceptive...takes a neglected topic and gives itpurpose and insight."--Christian Science Monitor, "David Mayers's enjoyable, stimulating book brings America's Ambassadorial saga in Moscow vividly to life, creating at the same time a significant new dimension in Cold War history."--Fraser J. Harbutt, Emory University, "A work of superb historical analysis that gives carefully researchedrecognition to the role that American chiefs of mission in Russia and the formerSoviet Union played in the furtherance of our foreign policyinterests."--American Academy of Diplomacy, "This highly original study of the United States Embassy in Moscow in the modern period and the diplomacy of its chiefs--Bullitt, Davies, Harriman, Kennan, Thompson and Matlock--throws new light on the formation and execution of American policy toward the Soviet Union. It also makes a strongcase for the importance of ambassadorial diplomacy in an age in which it is too often superseded by foreign ministers, special envoys, and heads of state. An important and very readable book, which is also in part a cautionary tale."--Gordon A. Craig, Stanford University, "Mayers' skill in evoking the travails of the Moscow station and in assessing the advice and impact of U.S. ambassadors, together with his keen sense of the functions of diplomacy, makes for enthralling reading. This is scholarly history at its best: sharp in its judgments but at the same time scrupulously fair and exhaustive."--Foreign Affairs, "Mayers' skill in evoking the travails of the Moscow station and in assessing the advice and impact of U.S. ambassadors, together with his keen sense of the functions of diplomacy, makes for enthralling reading. This is scholarly history at its best: sharp in its judgments but at the same timescrupulously fair and exhaustive."--Foreign Affairs, "As a study of ambassadorial diplomacy, this highly informative, judicious volume analyzes the long, often agonizing relations between two countries that Alexis de Tocqueville once predicted would each control half the world. The volume offers a highly insightful evaluation not only of all theAmericans, from John Quincy Adams to Robert Strauss, who represented the United States in St. Petersburg and Moscow, but also of the changing, sometimes bewildering, environment in which they labored. In a fitting conclusion the author evaluates the art of diplomacy as practiced by hisambassadors."--Norman A. Graebner, University of Virginia, "Demonstrating excellent command of his subject, Mayers enlivens this bureaucratic history with provocative insights about Cold War lunacies on both sides of the Iron Curtain....Highly recommended."--Choice, "Mayers' skill in evoking the travails of the Moscow station and inassessing the advice and impact of U.S. ambassadors, together with his keensense of the functions of diplomacy, makes for enthralling reading. This isscholarly history at its best: sharp in its judgments but at the same timescrupulously fair and exhaustive."--Foreign Affairs, "Mayers' skill in evoking the travails of the Moscow station and in assessing the advice and impact of U.S. ambassadors, together with his keen sense of the functions of diplomacy, makes for enthralling reading. This is scholarly history at its best: sharp in its judgments but at the same time scrupulously fair and exhaustive."-- Foreign Affairs, "A work of superb historical analysis that gives carefully researched recognition to the role that American chiefs of mission in Russia and the former Soviet Union played in the furtherance of our foreign policy interests."--American Academy of Diplomacy, "Cool, imaginative, and perceptive...takes a neglected topic and gives it purpose and insight."--Christian Science Monitor, "The stringency of its argument and the quality of its documentation, aswell as the elegance of its writing, make this an essential book for thoseinterested not only in the history of American-Soviet relations, but in theongoing dynamics of diplomacy."-- Dr. Erik Goldstein, University ofBirmingham
