Never learn to type - Margaret Joan Anstee

'As a leading international civil servant, Margaret Anstee has lived with the great themes of post–war history: poverty, conflict and the unending difficulty of limiting either. But she also writes of romance and travel, friendship and daily incident – even about making herself a ball–gown out of a parachute and dancing the night away!' Onora O'Neill, Principal, Newnham College, Cambridge

'An intelligent and courageous human being, Dame Margaret Anstee is also a wonderful writer. She vividly presents for us the adventures she has experienced, the battles she has won and lost, and the fascinating people she has encountered along the way.' Gerald J. Bender, Professor (and former Director), School of International Relations, University of Southern California, and former President of the African Studies Association

'What a life! She strode – and occasionally stumbled – across Development, the UN and the men in her life with a style, intelligence and curiosity reminiscent of those extraordinary Victorian women explorers. With a brief detour to Harold Wilson's Downing Street, her career was spent as Adviser and UN Representative in some of the world's most exotic, difficult and dangerous places. She is one of those redoubtable Englishwomen for whom England was always a size too small.' Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme