The Singing Ambassador

Picture the scene. You're about to take on a new job. You're nervous, filled with trepidation about an unknown future. Then you discover your predecessor was caught up in a serious diplomatic incident - and it now falls to you to deal with the aftermath. This was exactly what faced Hugh Philpott, former British Ambassador to Tajikistan, on his arrival in the capital Dushanbe. In this rare insider's view of contemporary Tajikistan, Hugh blends memoir, travel writing, and cultural