Includes index.

What is an interpreter? -- What's the problem with Arabic? -- The making of an interpreter and the importance of Scousers -- The making of an Arabic interpretreter -- Death in Beirut -- The lure of El Dorado and No. 10 Downing Street -- The Iron Lady and the Iraqis -- Confessions of a Downing Street interpreter 1985-1991 -- The revenge of the princes, Dubai 1991-1993 -- London calling and Al Jazeera -- Ibn Saud : founder of a kingdom and other controversies -- Arabia to Exeter 2000-2009.

"Have you ever wondered, what is so special about Arabic that most people believe it to be uniquely difficult? Can foreigners ever master Arabic? What is it like to interpret at No. 10 Downing St.? What is it like to interpret at Buckingham Palace? Could a foreigner ever pass for an Arab? How good was Lawrence of Arabia's Arabic? Where is the best Arabic spoken? How long does it take to be able to speak Arabic well? Why was interpreting such a big problem in the Lockerbie Trial? This book tells the story of how the writer first came across Arabic in Lancashire in 1941, studied the language at university in 1960 and interpreted for a British minister in 1964; visited every Arab country but Algeria, and interpreted for Mrs. Thatcher in 1983 before ending his career in 2009, interpreting at Downing St. for Gordon Brown"--Publisher's description, p. [4] of dust jacket.