BRANDON KEENE
TRAVEL WRITER - DRAGOMAN

My grandfather was a very unique individual and held positions at a number of British embassies throughout the world. He was often thought of as a "fixer" or what is officially called a dragoman. A dragoman was typically attached to an embassy  and often was the second most powerful person next to the ambassador. He was a fellow that was a jack-of-all-trades. He knew most everybody of importance in the regions where he was posted. He also was skilled at smoothing things over and accomplishing whatever the assignment was, often working behind the scenes. This esteemed gentleman knew the cities, the drawing rooms, cafes, whorehouses, courts, prisons, customs warehouses, military and the governments.

My father had emigrated from Scotland to the U.S. before I was born. He was killed when I was twelve and my mother felt it best that I obtain a cultured and well-rounded education. That is when I was shipped off to my grandfather, James Keene. I received one of the worldliest educations a young man could obtain. I learned everything there was about the local culture and those travels were my impetus for wanting to write about the world and share with my readers the things that made a culture really tick. It is in the back alleys and under the sidewalks where you find the real culture.

He impressed upon me that a true gentleman was to be of service to others in need. Grandfather Keene always told me during his stories of intrigue, "Brandon, there is never enough justice to go around and with the education you have had, you are bound to help others in a position of injustice and equalize the justice quotient."  

And it has been through my grandfather's teachings and my book writing career that I have had the opportunity in helping a number of individuals and organizations. My position as a travel writer gained me access into places not often seen by outsiders and worked as a great front for my other work. In short, I became a dragoman or a "fixer" against the malefactors. Many of my activities were not mentioned in my books due to their sensitive nature and little relation to a travel guide. 

Brandon Keene's  Maltese-  "EL NIÑO"

After some time feeling sorry for myself I began to write my thoughts down to help me mourn. Everyday, I wrote a little more and writing is what I will be doing for you. As I settled back into my home in Phoenix I started to read over my notes from the past thirty years as well as my grandfather's journals. I realized what great experiences I had and that one of the key things that we as human beings are lacking, is an understanding of each other. Also, that not all is black and white and that we are deficient in "cultural fluency". Most human behavior is based on codes. When others don't operate from the same context there will be misunderstandings and problems. How does one learn these codes? By listening and asking why? I am going to help you learn to decipher the unwritten word of many different cultures. Not for any devious reasons. More importantly, for the desire most of us possess to understand and to promote a more harmonious world.  

A member of the Keene family from the University of Glasglow. circa 1736

I invite you to join my weekly email list  which I have begun with my creator Nicholas Crowder. Brandon Keene is my real name. However, due the number of inequities I have corrected, there are a number of people and groups that would like me to be disposed of. Therefore, I now live under another name. My good friend Nicholas Crowder does not even know where I live or how to contact me. I contact him. I am truly grateful to him for creating me so I may share with you information from my experiences and grandfather's journal which he called the "Dragoman Chronicles".  

I hope you will join the list. And please remember, your information will never be shared-- a true dragoman would never break a confidence.

Sincerely,

Brandon Keene

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