The ambassadorial diary of John W. Davis

"If the dome of St. Paul's had suddenly fallen on my head I could have been little more surprised" was John W. Davis's reaction to President Woodrow Wilson's request that he become the United States ambassador to Great Britain. When Davis and his wife, Nell, arrived in London in December 1918, World War I had just ended and much of the world was looking toward the United States for guidance.

In a well-written, day-by-day account of his activities in the post-war era of 1918-1921, Davis - who seemed to have his hand on the pulse of world events - writes about war-torn Europe, political maneuvering in the world, the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the quest for oil and control of the Middle East, problems in newly-created Yugoslavia, strife in Ireland, and tensions at the peace conferences.

He sheds light on the Wilson presidency in its last months and painfully describes Anglo-American tensions brought on by Wilson's illness and failure of the Senate to sign the Treaty of Versailles. He brilliantly describes physical appearances, dress, and idiosyncracies of many of the world's leaders from Winston Churchill to the Emir Faisal, who became the first king of Iraq.

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Not only should diplomatic historians enjoy the book, but also those interested in English cultural and social history. Davis's rich descriptions of ceremonies, parades, and traditions; his insightful comments on post-war strikes and labor problems; and his impressions of the royal palaces, city houses, and country homes (many no longer standing) where he and Nell were guests, are only a few of the subjects represented in the diary.

Genealogists and family historians might note that several thousand people are mentioned as well.