Sir Henry A. Layard was British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1877 until 1880. Following work in the Western Manuscript Department of the British Library, Sinan Kuneralp has produced this edited version of Layard’s memoirs of his time in Constantinople. Layard’s ambassadorship was of particular importance as it occurred at a time of heightened tension when war with the Ottoman Empire appeared inevitable. Although Layard was recalled from his posting after the Liberal party under Gladstone came to power in 1880, his short time in the Ottoman Empire was nonetheless extremely important especially as he was perhaps the last British ambassador to have wielded some influence in the Ottoman capital. Layard was at the time vilified in Britain for having Turkish sympathies, and these papers serve as his means to justify his actions. The Queen’s Ambassador to the Sultan offers for the first time insight into Layard the man and the diplomat.