In the decades following the Second World War Australia fostered close relations with many nations, most newly independent, throughout the world, especially in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Richard Gate, a member of Australia's fledgling diplomatic service from the late 1950s, had postings in Korea, Nauru, Israel, Kenya (with accreditation also to Ethiopia and Uganda), Burma, Jordan and Bangladesh, as well as Italy and New Zealand.

In the elegant essays which compose this volume, he recalls his sojourns in each of these countries, illuminating both the professional life of a diplomat and the benefits as well as the burdens of foreign service.