The Lion in the Stone by Henrietta Buckmaster (novel). The secretary-general of the UN is the protagonist of this post-Vietnam war novel. Devan Moragodo, a Ceylonese diplomat, heads up this powerful international body and is pleased to preside over what appears to be a moment of peace, one which he hopes to preserve. But beneath the world’s placid appearance, a conflict between China and the Soviet Union is brewing over control of Mongolia, a conflict which threatens to explode in the form of a nuclear conflict. This novel explores the theory that loving persuasion can supplant the violent clash of war. We are offered a look at what goes on behind the scenes at the UN, complete with a compelling cast of characters from all over the world. The book’s tension comes from the high-wire, nerve jangling art of diplomacy and the unorthodox romance of Devan and his own sister-in-law. The title comes from an anecdote: a child observing a statue of a lion asks how the sculptor knew there was a lion in the stone. Devan, wondering if his notion of persuasion can prevail, asks, “How do we know what we will find until we try?”
