Henry Wotton: Wit, Secrecy, and the Art of Diplomacy

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Carol Rutter to explore the fascinating life of Henry Wotton - diplomat, poet, wit, and master of survival in the early modern world.

Best remembered for his famous line describing an ambassador as “an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country,” Wotton was far more than a clever epigram. Serving as ambassador to Venice under James I, he operated at the delicate intersection of diplomacy, intelligence, religion, and reputation - navigating courts where a misstep could cost everything.

We discuss how Wotton crafted his persona, how friendship (including his connection to John Donne) shaped his career, and what his life reveals about how power actually worked beyond the throne.

Was he underestimated? Opportunistic? Philosophical? Or simply practical in a dangerous age?

Join us as we unpack the art of diplomacy — and the man who lived it.

Lying Abroad: Henry Wotton and the Invention of Diplomacy ⁠https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Carol-Chillington-Rutter/dp/1526172062⁠

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Prof. Carol Rutter