From the City of London to the deserts of Arabia, the former Soviet states, and sub-Saharan Africa, this book traces the life and career of a man who has been a banker in some remarkably challenging environments over a period of half a century. The author has counted bales of cotton in Yemen, dodged Israeli bombs in Lebanon, financed exports from Romania in the days of Ceausescu, been a banker to a member of a ruling family in the Gulf, conducted business in the sauna of a bank in Kazakhstan, and met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In his spare time, he has taken an active part in amateur theater groups in the countries in which he has lived, served as a member of committees administering cemeteries, and been a warden appointed by the British Embassy to assist their citizens in times of trouble. As well as being an engrossing story of banking in many varied countries, the book includes chapters about the background to the problems of some of the places in which he has worked that show a clear understanding of the history and politics involved. Having lived in the Middle East for much of his life, he comments on the Arab Spring, and his long and diverse banking career has enabled him to write incisively on events in the industry in recent years. He draws conclusions on both of these momentous stories.
