The Embassy In Grosvenor Square

Leading scholars explore the role played by the American Embassy in London and the US Ambassador to the Court of St James's, not only in bilateral UK-US relations, but also in wider international issues over the years the Embassy has been in Grosvenor Square. This volume covers the period from 1938 to 2008, effectively the lifespan of what has often been termed 'the special relationship', from its birth in the Second World War, through the challenges of the Cold War to the present day.

Debates about the 'specialness' of the relationship in the post-war context are key, as are discussions about the impact of the development and demise of the 'Cold War', the ongoing impact of European integration, the influence of nuclear weapons and NATO, and wider economic, cultural, demographic and environmental forces that have shaped the transatlantic relationship to arguably form the basis of a new model of 'transatlantic diplomacy'.

Review: Kennedy is the earliest of the 20 US ambassadors to Britain to be scrutinised by the book's co-editors, Dr Rofe, and Dr Alison R. Holmes of Humboldt State University, and their team of fellow academics. They focus on the period 1938-2008, they say, because it 'covers the lifespan of the much debated term 'the special relationship' from its birth - although not its conception - in the Second World War and its aftermath, to the challenges of globalisation in the present day'. - The Times 'Despite the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the Anglo-American 'special relationship,' historians have not until now had a comprehensive view of Washington's ambassadors in London.

The sixteen well-written and impressively researched essays in this volume offer a fascinating perspective on diplomacy as practiced by governments that have remained close despite their many spats. This is a book that should appeal to general readers as well as to scholars and students.' - Frank Costigliola, University of Connecticut '...this is an excellent book, which will be very useful not just for the [...] group of people interested in the Embassy but also anyone interested in Anglo - American relations since 1938 and US foreign policy in general.' - Andrew Williams, University of St Andrews 'Never before has a collection been compiled that has such range and detail on the work of US ambassadors in London as this.

The two editors have done an immensely valuable job in assembling a group of well-known scholars who help to fill an important gap in our understanding of Anglo-American relations.' - Alan Dobson, University of Dundee