"Salonica - City of Ghosts" is an eery, elegiac portrait of a city that - in many respects - had a completely different identity to modern Thessaloniki. " This podcast is based on my review of Mark Mazower's book of the same name about Greece's second city and its tragic history, including the extermination of its majority Jewish population. #Thessaloniki #Thessalonica #Salonica #Jews #Jewish #Greece #nationalism #diplomacy #diplomat #diplomats #diplomacybooks #booktok #books #Mazower #CityofGhosts

"German punctuality is a myth that German diplomats work hard to dispel. I... regularly attended meetings of European Union ambassadors where our German colleagues seemed to make it a point of honour to be the last to arrive." From Chapter 10 of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "How to know people". #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #diplomats #diplomacybooks #booksaboutdiplomacy #booktok #books #stereotypes #assumptions #Germany #Germans #military #militarywomen

Being the most powerful country in the world may sound appealing. But there are downsides, too. "Many people couldn't believe that the US was as vulnerable as 9/11 seemed to suggest. But another factor was at play, too.: reflex anti-Americanism." From Chapter 15 of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠⁠⁠: "How to make diplomacy reflect our changing world". #antiamericanism #topnation #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #diplomat #diplomats #diplomacybooks #booksaboutdiplomacy #booktok #books

Why did the US bomb Iran? We can learn much from the failed US intervention in Somalia in the early 1990s, culminating in the Battle of Mogadishu. This podcast is adapted from part of Chapter 15 of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: "How to make diplomacy reflect our changing world".

Listen to Chapters 2 and 3 of my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit", with diplomat action hero Helen Gale. The Prologue and Chapter 1 are in the previous podcast. You can find "Blood Summit" ⁠on Amazon⁠.

Listen to the Prologue and Chapter 1 of my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit", with diplomat action hero Helen Gale. Chapters 2 and 3 will be in a future podcast. You can find "Blood Summit" on Amazon.

"President Putin's unprovoked invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 turned diplomacy on its head. In response, countries supporting Ukraine must show strategic patience... and explore how the Russian leader got his decision so wrong." From Chapter 5 of ⁠⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠⁠: "How to understand Putin's war on Ukraine".

"The fact that many ordinary Russians fear that the alternative to authoritarianism is chaos in part reflects their grim experience of the 1990s." From Chapter 4 of Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠⁠: "How (not) to introduce democracy".

"I was surprised to find a political adviser telling off a senior cabinet minister in this way. I was even more surprised when [Boris] Johnson ate humble pie, apologising profusely even though it was not his fault." From Chapter 3 of "⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠": "How to fail at geopolitical change: Brexit".

"Should you ever get a chance to take part in a counter-terrorism exercise, step forward... but never volunteer to be a hostage." From Chapter 2 of "⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠⁠": "How to Tackle Terrorism".

"A bomb has exploded in Ankara. A big one. City centre." My colleague from the British embassy in the capital of Turkey, five hours' drive to the east, sounded shaken. "Should we declare a crisis?" From Chapter 1 of "⁠Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties⁠": "How to Survive a Crisis".

Meet Ray: "a shambling, swarthy, sunken-eyed bear of a man... the first thing I saw when I peered into the cab was his butcher's arms: broad and sheened with sweat". One of a host of fascinating characters who taught me the lessons in the book "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties".

"The Two Rooms" is one of my "Hotel Stories". It features Ms N, the most brilliant and occasionally homicidal hotel managers in the world, and her beautiful, smart but naive colleague, Tatiana.

I'm afraid I'm not brilliant at accents - particularly US accents! But I hope you enjoy the story. Any voice actors out there who fancy doing a better version? Get in touch and - most of all - enjoy!

#writing #writingtips #thrillers #thriller #international #books #book #booktok #stories #shortstories

How do get invited to the King's Birthday Party in a British Embassy overseas? Find out more in my new book ⁠⁠Lessons in Diplomacy⁠. It might be easier than you think! I hope you enjoy the book. #diplomacy #ambassador #ambassadors #diplomat #diplomats #diplomat #booksfordiplomacy #diplomacybook #booksaboutdiplomacy

How do you become an ambassador? My new book ⁠Lessons in Diplomacy⁠ explores what diplomacy can teach us all. Here is a run-through of the main chapters and sections, from "How to become an ambassador" through "How to survive a crisis", "How to handle politicians" and "How to drink wine and know things" to "How to make diplomacy reflect our changing world" I hope you enjoy the book. #diplomacy #ambassador #ambassadors #diplomat #diplomats #diplomat #booksfordiplomacy #diplomacybook #booksaboutdiplomacy #pimms #perfectpimms

Are the conspiracy theories right? What if the entire world, as we perceive it, is controlled by shadowy forces? A 1955 short story helped begin a strong tradition of tales exploring alternative realities. You can find the story on which this podcast is based on my blog, here. Other blog posts mentioned in the podcast are The Machine Stops and Vintage Season. I recommend them both.

Why did Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin allow Vladimir Putin to kill him after Prigozhin's mutiny in 2023? Prigozhin might have taken more care if he'd seen the classic early 1990s Russian movie Burnt by the Sun. More about this in my book Lessons in Diplomacy.

From my book "Lessons in Diplomacy": How to make the perfect Pimm's. Watch the video of Antonio making a mouthwatering Pimms at https://rleighturner.com/perfect-pimms/. #diplomacy #ambassador #ambassadors #diplomat #diplomats #diplomat #booksfordiplomacy #diplomacybook #booksaboutdiplomacy #pimms #perfectpimms #rleighturner

"The Three-Body Problem" is out on Netflix. Some Chinese critics are reportedly angered by the series' depiction of China. I can see why. Let's look at the book, and how the Netflix version compares.

You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based on my rleighturner.com website.

I don’t usually reveal top secret information in these podcasts. But here, exclusively, I want to talk about the Welsh Secret Service. More about the WSS in my book Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties. #Wales #Welsh #diplomacy #ambassador #ambassadors #diplomat #diplomats #diplomat #booksfordiplomacy #diplomacybook #booksaboutdiplomacy