Peace Makers: Shaping the modern world: the men and women of the Foreign Office in WWII

'Well-researched and enthralling, Peter Ricketts brings the wartime Foreign Office to life.’ – Tim Bouverie

'The gripping story of how the men and women of the Foreign Office secured Britain's victory in the Second World War and created a new international order.' – Professor Helen McCarthy

“A gripping account of British diplomacy during the Second World War, filled with high drama and moments of tension. Ricketts vividly brings to the fore some of the most fascinating figures in the history of the Foreign Office.”
Dr Helen Fry

Discover the untold story of the British diplomats who shaped WWII – and the peace that followed – in this vivid exploration of a transformative moment in modern history. 

While military exploits and Churchill’s leadership dominate history books, Peace Makers reveals how the men and women of the Foreign Office forged alliances, supported resistance movements, managed refugee crises and laid the groundwork for the post-war international order. 

From the rooftops of Whitehall during the Blitz to embassies under siege across Europe and Asia, diplomats and their families demonstrated extraordinary resilience and ingenuity. They evacuated civilians, backed resistance networks, gathered intelligence and waged battles of persuasion. Some endured years apart from home; others, like staff in Tokyo, survived internment. Figures such as Archibald Clark Kerr in Moscow and Sir Alexander Cadogan in London steered critical alliances and helped shape the world to come. 

Peace Makers also explores how the war transformed the Foreign Office itself, sweeping away the barriers that had kept women out of top jobs. Through vivid portraits of pioneers like Freya Stark, Nancy Lambton and Elizabeth Wiskemann, you'll learn how women began to rise to senior diplomatic ranks. It also features the first published account from the only surviving member of the wartime Foreign Office, who shares her extraordinary story of travelling with Anthony Eden to the great wartime Summits. 

Peace Makers brings these stories together in a compelling narrative that blends fresh research with vivid storytelling. It offers a new lens on the war – one that highlights diplomacy as a frontline force and reveals how its legacy continues to shape our world. 

This is essential reading for anyone interested in history, international affairs or the human stories behind global change. 

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'A fascinating account of how the Foreign Office helped turned wartime victory into postwar peace.’ – Professor David Reynolds

'Places the dedicated men and women in the British Foreign Office in the pantheon of WWIl heroes.’ – Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell

'Who better than a former Permanent Secretary to take us on a riveting tour of the Foreign Office at war?’ – Professor Peter Hennessy

'A fascinating account of the ingenuity and courage required of diplomats in wartime.' – Lord Hague

Peter Ricketts was a British diplomat for more than forty years and rose to be the Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service. He was also the UK’s first National Security Advisor, and Ambassador to France. He is now a member of the House of Lords, the Chairman of the Franco-British Council and Vice Chairman of the Royal United Services Institute. He is much in demand as a commentator on foreign affairs, appearing regularly on the BBC, Sky News, Times Radio and LBC. He has written for the FT, the Times and the New Statesman. His first book, Hard Choices: the making and unmaking of global Britain, was published in 2021.