This is a fascinating window on the life and times of a banker in a bygone age. It is a mosaic of privilege, adventure, romance and dedication against a background of the rarefied world of international finance. A de facto conquest of Mt Everest, throwing a General across a room, a Hong Kong typhoon and civil unrest, are just some of the authors experiences. HSBC is singled out for the highest praise as a financial institution, yet the Bank is also exposed as a long service pension confiscator, attracting widespread condemnation. Generously illustrated, the apt juxtaposition of Shakespearean quotes adds a theatrical dimension to the story.