{"product_id":"matthew-parris-parting-shots-2011","title":"Matthew Parris: Parting Shots [2011]","description":"\u003cp\u003eMatthew Parris's \u003ci\u003eParting Shots \u003c\/i\u003eis a treasure trove of wit, venom and serious analysis.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUp till 2006 a British Ambassador leaving his post was encouraged to write what was known as a valedictory despatch, to be circulated to a small number of influential people in government. This was the parting shot, an opportunity to offer a personal and frank view of the host country, the manners and morals of its people, their institutions, the state of their cooking and their drains. But it was also a chance to let rip at the Foreign Office itself and to look back on a career spent in the service of a sometimes ungrateful nation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCombining gems from the archives with more recent despatches obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, \u003ci\u003eParting Shots\u003c\/i\u003e sheds light on Britain's place in the world, revealing the curious cocktail of privilege and privation that makes up the life of an ambassador.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Wonderful ... a glimpse of that lost world of private eloquence and erudite candour' Matthew d'Ancona, \u003ci\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Unbuttoned, indiscreet and very funny' \u003ci\u003eYorkshire Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMatthew Parris had a short career in the Foreign Office where one of his tasks was to distribute incoming valedictory despatches. He was a Conservative MP from 1979 to 1986, since when he has worked as a journalist. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eA Castle in Spain\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eParting Shots\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eA Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase\u003c\/i\u003e. He divides his time between Derbyshire (where his old constituency was situated) and east London.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Parris, Matthew","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":52677645893971,"sku":"9780670919291","price":16.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Very Good","offer_id":52677645861203,"sku":"XV80670919291","price":6.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4001\/6057\/files\/parris-matthew-matthew-parris-parting-shots-2011-1213405481.jpg?v=1766933737","url":"https:\/\/chaptersbookstore.com\/products\/matthew-parris-parting-shots-2011","provider":"Chapters Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}