The diplomat's daughter

A novelist with the rare ability to grant us entree to whispered-about realms of privilege and glamour, William Kinsolving now tells the story of a remarkable woman who fights to triumph over the ambitious men who dominate foreign affairs. Through her eyes we are given a candid, insider's account of the intrigue-filled game of diplomacy as it is played in exciting international capitals and dangerous trouble spots - a game in which the rules are constantly changing and even a savvy diplomat's daughter might not know them all. Her father a lifelong U.S. Foreign Service officer, Lily McCann follows in his footsteps reluctantly, knowing that his ideals clash with the State Department's cynical ways - and that her progress may be slowed by its entrenched men's-club attitudes. Even her relationship with the brilliant Worth Deloit, the State Department's rising star, holds its perils, as his loyalties seem to go no further than his own career. And throughout, as Lily is posted in exotic locales and takes on sensitive assignments, she is haunted by the memory of a brutal act of terrorism she witnessed as a teenager - one that has its final consequences in an explosive confrontation in one of the world's most volatile regions. Involving and fast-paced, The Diplomat's Daughter is both an unforgettable picture of an astonishing woman and an entertaining education in how peace is waged. It leaves no doubt as to why William Kinsolving is the class of his field, a writer who has mastered an irresistible blend of worldly perception and absorbing drama.