British Embassies

British Embassies have a special role in our history. They represent our country in bricks and stone and have often expressed - at least in the eyes of foreigners - our national character. Whether they are Lutyens buildings in Washington, grand palaces in Europe, beautiful old colonial buildings in Asia, or secure compounds in the Middle East, they all have stories to tell and reveal the changing face of British diplomacy. The British Embassy will be a large format picture book with an authoritative text, similar to Great Houses of London, the prize-winning book on which the author and photographer successfully collaborated in 2012.

The book will cover High Commissions, Government Houses, Residencies and Embassies in about 25 countries to provide a wide survey of a subject hitherto unaddressed as a group. They will be a revelation. As well as providing a record of famous historic embassies such as that in Paris, it is proposed to include a proportion of post war and contemporary Embassies and Residencies which represent the constant adaptation of British diplomacy to new conditions. The book will offer a mixture of history, architectural description, diplomacy and anecdote, for each entry which will be about 2500 words long and accompanied with photographs by Fritz von der Schulenburg.

A unique and glamourous book about British Imperial and post-Imperial architecture. Also a lively and evocative read for anyone interested in the international projection of British power and culture, particularly in connection with the Empire. A superb gift for anyone interested in these things, and anyone connected to the world of diplomacy. Close to essential reading for 14,000 current Foreign Office Employees, with a wider professional readership of former employees and overseas contacts.