Gwendolen M. Otte

with a special focus focus on the social and cultural aspects of British diplomacy in Europe and America. Her debut publication “La princesse anglaise”: Lady Burghersh, British diplomats’ wives, and the defeat of Napoleon, 1813-15, Diplomacy & Statecraft, 37, 1, (2026)assesses how women used sociability, fashion and art to represent their nations in the international sphere, and shape the transition from bilateral to multilateral diplomacy.

Her doctoral research Building the British Embassy in Washington DC: The Architecture of Anglo-American Relations, 1925-1945 explores how architecture can help (and hinder) the pursuit of foreign policy.

She also runs The Inner Garden Substack which is dedicated to sharing the sensuality of words, from travelogues and other creative pieces on beauty, history and nostalgia.

HISTORY

MSt in British & European History, 1700-1850 Christ Church, University of Oxford, (2024-25)

BA (Hons) in History New College, University of Oxford (2021-24)