About me
I’m Leigh Turner, writer and former ambassador. Thanks for visiting my blog.
My diplomatic and life handbook “Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties” is available from Bristol University Press, from Amazon, or from all good bookshops.
You can buy my thrillers and other books from Amazon or leading bookshops. Read about my published books here.
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Latest Articles

My talks and teaching – with a 10% discount
Book talks and courses are always in preparation. A 10% discount is now available. This post was updated in mid-May 2025.

Katse Dam Site, Lesotho
Katse Dam site, Lesotho: photographs taken on visits in March-April 1988 as construction of the Dam began. Katse: where are the photos from? In March-April

“Burma Sahib” and “Burmese Days”
“Burma Sahib”, by Paul Theroux, fictionalises George Orwell’s Burma years from 1922-27. Orwell’s novel “Burmese Days” does the same. How do they compare? “Burmese Days”

Zelensky/Trump: what next after the Oval Office car crash?
Zelensky/Trump: what exactly happened in the Oval Office on 28 February? What might happen next? Just over two weeks ago, President Trump rocked Europe by

Russia and Ukraine 3 years on: what next?
President Trump has rocked Europe by starting talks with Moscow. What next for Russia and Ukraine 3 years on?

Book tour: My #AustroScottishBookTour
What’s a book tour really like? My January 2025 tour around Austria and Scotland was full of sofa-beds, train rides and kindness.
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