The Vanished Pomps of Yesterday Being Some Random Reminiscences of a British Diplomat

"The Vanished Pomps of Yesterday" by Frederic Hamilton is a memoir that looks back at the grand and glorious days of European courts before they disappeared after World War I. As a British diplomat, the author shares his memories and thoughts about how society changed and caused these amazing aristocratic societies to fall apart. He tells stories from his time working in diplomacy, giving us a peek into the cultures and politics of the time. Starting with how Europe was turned upside down after 1914, the author remembers his early jobs in Rome and Berlin during times of political trouble. He introduces important people he met, like Bismarck, and paints a picture of the differences between the fancy lives of the upper class and the everyday work of diplomats, using exciting images and an interesting way of writing to bring to life a lost time of customs, people, and historical happenings.