In going through Volume One of Ernest Satow's Diaries when he was a British Envoy in Peking, I was struck by how progressive Satow was in opposing his former chief in Tokyo, Sir Harry Parkes who believed that force was the best way of dealing with the "Orientals." Satow also favored a polite and less blustering response in punishing China for the Imperial support of the Boxer rebellion. The author, Ian Ruxton, does a excellent job at providing the needed details for understanding this rare and progressive figure; one that most of today's politicians could learn from, no doubt. Also we get a rare glimpse of how his colleagues jockeyed for power in the court of Peking, and how Satow was involved with the Russian-Japanese war. Keeping in mind that this was a incredible time of change, industrialization,and a time in which borders were changed, and new countries and new forms of government were established, we can see that this was a time for great diplomacy! This book has, in short, shown what a great figure Ernest Satow was and how complex the issues truly were.

Asia has always fascinated me - I am glad I found these books.....

"The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, by Ian Ruxton is truly the work of a dedicated and inspired scholar. An amazing accomplishment by a well- rounded individual who expresses great devotion and passion towards his goals."

Michelle Rossi

Ian Ruxton’s “The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow is a fascinating read about what for the average person, is a fairly esoteric subject. I have always been intrigued by British history and the Boxer Rebellion is of particular interest to me, as my Great Grandfather served as a French military attaché to Peking during this tumultuous period. Satow’s May 31st entry from the year 1900 is quite prophetic, as it mentions the possibility of war between Japan and Russia that would transpire almost four years after it was written. I recommend this diary as an intimate chronicle of the the time, written by a British diplomat who witnessed historic events that changed the scope of Chinese colonialism.

The two volumes entitled, the diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, by Ian Ruxton is a formidable and scholarly compilation that can only be produced by a dedicated scholar of the likes of Ruxton. Sir Satow was Britain's top diplomat in China replacing Sir Claude MacDonald in 1900. These volumes will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable resource for historians, researchers and others interested in the era.

This latest instalment from the studious mind and prolific pen of Ian Ruxton, brings Sir Ernest Satow, British Diplomat and sometime Minister in a number of important Far East postings, to life ( yet again ) in a way which the unprivileged observer from the great man's own time could never be privy to - but, courtesy of Mr Ruxton's diligence and application, we most certainly are. These (later) extracts from Sir Ernest Satow's diary mainly centering on his later Chinese postings, are a fascinating combination of both the musings on proposed and pivotal official policy and decisions, and their effects during and after the fact - and the more mundane matters such as 'met with..' 'had dinner...' 'cab to...' 'dinner at hotel..' and so on. Sometimes the mostly secretly held opinions recorded in the diaries gradually changed, such as was the case with Satow's opinion on the extreme use of force by British and allied forces during the Boxer Rebellion, which he initally agreed with at the time and in early retrospect; but much later, after settling in to his new and albeit initially vague tenure, ( was he really the Minister or was he an overseeing High Commissioner? ), came to the conclusion that the allies and their gunboats blasting away was entirely the wrong stategy to have adopted. Via assimilation of both the original recorded musings of Satow, and his digital reanimation courtesy of the highly accomplished specialist biographer Ian Ruxton, ( who is also a graduate in both Law and Modern Languages ) I feel as if I or any other reader could easily be on par with the brightest Oxbridge graduates who come out with honours degrees in Oriental Studies. Another great work of preservation and presentation by the aforesaid scribe. Well done.