该书为英国著名外交学专家贝里奇教授选编的早期外交理论家的文献集，从中世纪的外交家柯门斯、马基雅弗利到18世纪外交家瓦特尔，选文短小精悍，极具代表意义，对于外交史及现代外交学的研究均具很大参考价值。

Author's Preface and Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

 The art of negotiation

 The personnel

 The channels of negotiation

 Diplomacy in the states-system

 1 Commynes: The Memoirs

 2 Machiavelli: Advice to Raffaello Girolami

 3 Guicciardini: Ricordi

 4 Gentili: Three Books on Embassies

 5 Hotman: The Ambassador

 6 Bacon: Of Negotiating

 7 De Vera: The Perfect Ambassador

 8 Grotius: On the Right of Legation

 9 Richelieu: Political Testament

 10 Wicquefort: The Embassador and his Functions

 11 Calli~res: The Art of Negotiating with Sovereign Princes

 12 Bynkershoek: Jurisdiction over Ambassadors

 13 Pecquet: Discourse on the Art of Negotiating

 14 Vattel: The Law of Nations

Index