This book, 'Outposts of Diplomacy: A History of the Embassy' by G. R. Berridge, traces the evolution and significance of the resident embassy as a central institution in diplomacy. It explores the development of embassies from ancient times, highlighting their role in facilitating diplomatic relations between states. The book examines various historical examples, focusing on the practices of leading nations like Britain, Venice, France, and the United States, to illustrate the uniformity and importance of diplomatic missions. The work emphasizes the transformation from temporary special envoys to established resident embassies, a shift that occurred prominently during the Renaissance in Italy and later reached its peak in the 19th century. It also addresses the terminological evolution within diplomatic practice and the challenges faced by embassies in the 20th |