Madame Ambassador

Behind the Scenes with a Candid Israeli Diplomat

By (author) Tova Herzl

Not available to order

Publication date:

06 November 2014

Length of book:

208 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442235380

Madame Ambassador is an intimate description of what being an ambassador is really like. Tova Herzl draws on her twenty-one year career and shares her unique experiences as a single, Jewish orthodox woman serving as Israel’s Ambassador to paint a vivid, entertaining picture of the lives and work of contemporary diplomats. She addresses major political events in which she was closely involved, such as the 2001 UN Conference on Racism in Durban, South Africa, and discusses ethical and private issues, such as dealing with illness or practicing her religion. The book also uncovers the personal side of diplomacy, including the challenges of giving speeches and interviews, access to expense accounts and household staff, relations within the diplomatic corps, and life under the watchful eye of a bodyguard.

Prologue: How Is This Book Different from All Other Books?
Chapter 1: My Career: Four Postings, Three Capitals, Two Ambassadorships, and a Little
Chapter 2: Preparations: A Tale of Two Refrigerators
Chapter 3: Language: Of Frogs, Peace, and Sandwiches
Chapter 4: Terms of Employment: Ah, All That Luxury!
Chapter 5: Credentials: Can I Start Working Already?
Chapter 6: Immunity: The Untouchables, Almost
Chapter 7: Neutrality: Feelings, Facades, and Fine Lines
Chapter 8: Diplomacy and Dignity: She Is Such a Diplomat!
Chapter 9: Name Calling: Excellencies and Rabbis! Brothers and Sisters!
Chapter 10: Informal Connections: The Ties That Bind
Chapter 11: Bodyguards: Someone to Watch Over Me
Chapter 12: The Diplomatic Corps: It’s a Family, Sort Of
Chapter 13: Entertaining: Let’s Party, We Have To
Chapter 14: Religious Observance: No, Thank You, Not for Me, Not Today
Chapter 15: Being Jewish: So Many Questions, So Few Answers
Chapter 16: Holocaust: A6766
Chapter 17: Christianity: Get Me To the Church on Time
Chapter 18: Speech: There Will Be Plenty of Time for Questions
Chapter 19: Meetings: Oh, So That’s What You Do All Day!
Chapter 20: Clothes: Do I Look All Rright?
Chapter 21: Press: As Long as They Spell My Name Properly
Chapter 22: Advice: Why Doesn’t Somebody Do Something?
Chapter 23: Importance: It’s All Relative
Chapter 24: Phalcon: We Were Generals, We Know Best
Chapter 25: Visits: You Are Welcome, Any Time!
Chapter 26: Crime and Punishment: Please, Minister, May I Have an Organ?
Chapter 27: Sickness: You Only Have One Liver to Give to Your Country
Chapter 28: Passages: A Time to Be Born and a Time to Die
Chapter 29: Demonstrations: The People Have Spoken, but What DidThey Say?
Chapter 30: Durban: You Were Really There?
Chapter 31: The Paper Trail: Like a Trip through a Cemetery
Chapter 32: Between Home and Abroad: It’s a Life! It’s a Job! No, It’s Diplomacy!
About the Author

Tova Herzl has written an interesting memoir about a fascinating career. . . While most people consider the diplomatic corps a 'glamorous' life, it has many aspects that are not glamorous at all, but the author is candid about both these humdrum realities and her personal life as a single, religiously-observant person, and conveys a sense of satisfaction in having carried out her mandate with skill and grace.