Synopses & Reviews
This magisterial work on American diplomacy by a veteran journalist and historian is the first complete history of the U.S. Foreign Service
American Statecraft is a fascinating and comprehensive look at the unsung men and women of the U.S. Foreign Service whose dedication and sacrifices have been a crucial part of our history for over two centuries. Fifteen years in the making, veteran journalist and historian Moskin has traveled the globe conducting hundreds of interviews both in and out of the State Department to look behind the scenes at Americas “militiamen of diplomacy.”
As the nations eyes and ears, our envoys pledge a substantial part of their lives in foreign lands working for the benefit of their nation. Endeavoring to use dialogue and negotiation as their instruments of change, our diplomats tirelessly work to find markets for American business, rescue its citizens in trouble abroad, and act in general as “Americas first line of defense” in policy negotiations, keeping America out of war. But it took generations to polish these skills, and Moskin traces Americas full diplomatic history, back to its amateur years coming up against seasoned Europeans during the days of Ben Franklin, now considered the father of the U.S. Foreign Service, and up to the recent Benghazi attack. Along the way, its members included many devoted and courageous public servants, and also some political spoilsmen and outright rogues.
An important contribution to the political canon, American Statecraft recounts the history of the United States through the lens of foreign diplomacy.
Review
“An ambitious, impressively researched history...” —Kirkus Reviews on American Statecraft
“Moskin is an experienced author who writes engagingly.” —Stanley L. Falk, Washington Post Book World
“Moskins prose is smooth and pleasurable to read, and his scholarship is impressive.” —Dennis OBrien, Chicago Tribune
“Moskin tells his stories with drama and verve, and often sheer poetry.” —West Coast Review of Books
Review
“Moskin is an experienced author who writes engagingly.” —Stanley L. Falk, Washington Post Book World
“Moskins prose is smooth and pleasurable to read, and his scholarship is impressive.” —Dennis OBrien, Chicago Tribune
“Moskin tells his stories with drama and verve, and often sheer poetry.” —West Coast Review of Books
About the Author
An award-winning historian and journalist, J. ROBERT MOSKIN has written nine books including a definitive history of the U.S. Marine Corps and an account of the final battles of WWII. He served for nineteen years as an editor of Look magazine, spending the last five years as its Foreign Editor. He has also served as an editor of Colliers and The Saturday Review, as well as the editorial director of The Aspen Institute and The Commonwealth Fund. He lives in New York City and Massachusetts.