Charles Ritchie Libros

With an Introduction by Allan Gotlieb. One of Canada’s most distinguished diplomats, Charles Ritchie was also a born diarist. Now, for the first time, Ritchie’s diplomatic diaries are collected in one complete volume, covering his entire career in the Canadian Foreign Service. Ritchie creates a startlingly vivid and perceptive portrait of daily life at the centre of major historical events, including one of the finest accounts of the London Blitz ever written — the people in the parks, the shabby streets, the heightened love affairs. Ritchie’s life was a whirl of high-society engagements, and he turns his dry wit and irreverence to the social scene. Evocative and compelling, these diaries beautifully portray a forgotten era.

Focusing on his formative years, the second volume of Charles Ritchie's diaries chronicles his youth in Halifax and his experiences at Oxford. It captures his transition from an inexperienced teenager to a young adult, marked by both blunders and growth. This installment, published in 1977, follows the acclaimed first volume, The Siren Years, which garnered significant recognition, including the Governor General's Award for Non-fiction. Ritchie's candid reflections offer a unique glimpse into his evolving identity during a pivotal time in his life.

Exceptional and unusual collection of personal anecdotes, many amusing and others serious but all entertaining.