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Former British diplomat and author Leigh Turner has described Istanbul as a source of inspiration and warned that the city's long-standing tradition of tolerance is gradually disappearing.
Former British Ambassador to Ukraine Leigh Turner, who also served as Britain's consul general in Istanbul, met readers at D&R Kanyon in Istanbul to discuss his new thriller, "Palladium: The Secret in the Heart of Istanbul," and reflect on how his diplomatic career shaped his writing.
During the conversation, moderated by Gozde Eren, Turner explained how the novel draws on Istanbul's historical turning points, stretching from the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople under Sultan Mehmed II in 1453 to the present day.
The author said the city's cultural diversity and the friendships he built during his years in Türkiye had influenced his work, including his decision to make a strong-willed Turkish woman the novel's central character.
"Istanbul is a city that inspires everyone, including me. It is a meeting point of East and West, North and South," Turner said, adding that he had 89 million reasons to be happy in Türkiye, around 20 million of them living in Istanbul.
Turner emphasized that Istanbul's historical identity as a center of tolerance plays an important role in his novel, whose characters include individuals seeking to undermine that tradition.
He expressed concern that tolerance and the values associated with it were gradually fading, arguing that Istanbul's ability to bring different communities together remained an important part of its identity.
"Istanbul is a city that has existed through tolerance. Unfortunately, tolerance and the values associated with it are gradually disappearing," he said, stressing that this aspect of the city should be protected.
Turner also welcomed the Turkish-language publication of his novel, saying that reaching readers in Türkiye carried particular significance because of his personal connection to the country.
He added that he was eager to learn how Turkish readers would respond to the book.
Reflecting on his transition from diplomacy to literature, Turner said his assignments in Vienna, Moscow, Berlin and Kyiv had given him firsthand experience of major historical developments, including wars and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"Everyone has a book inside them. But some should stay inside," he remarked before explaining how his diplomatic experiences eventually fed into his fiction.
Turner described his years in Istanbul between 2012 and 2016 as particularly memorable, recalling how the Syrian war and numerous terrorist attacks shaped the environment in which he worked.
Although people frequently asked whether diplomacy was dangerous, he said the profession required navigating complex risks and maintaining delicate balances.
Turner added that the challenges of diplomatic work had always brought him excitement and satisfaction, while successful diplomacy could help make the world a more livable place.
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