Hi
I am planning a visit to Turkey soon, my first time. Looking for some interesting reading material- a novel about the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, for instance, but mainly focused on Istanbul. For example, those who know about William Dalrymple's books such as White Mughals and The Last Mughal (which are books focused on India)- I'm looking for something like that. Essentially, I really want to appreciate and understand whatever sights I;m going to see in Istanbul.
Thanks!
Ansh
I don't know if this is what you want but it interested me when I saw it (and bookmarked it)
http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/foreigners/istanbul-panorama
Here's some recommendations from others:
http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=890
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/14/10-best-books-set-in-istanbul
I have read about Istanbul in several historical novels but the books are more than just that city (but sparked my interest in knowing more about it) and I found A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Cooper to be just what I was looking for. He had written three complete volumes on the subject and then condensed them into the one. (He also wrote a great book on Venice which other forum members have praised).
If you can find a copy of it, I'd recommend it highly. Cooper writes well and brings the city to life with knowlege, appreciation and insight.
I think it is probably available as a download also...
Hope this helps and I do wish you a most wonderful trip there...
Thanks for those links, Sfgirl! And it looks like 'A Short History of Byzantium' is exactly what I'm looking for, so will search for it.
cheers
Definitely Cooper (although you will find the book under his title Norwich, rather than his surname Cooper - just ask for J. J. Norwich). If you want just one book, then go for the Short History. However, I would heartily recommend the three-volume set. This will be my Desert Island Discs choice when I'm famous (LOL).
Ansh..if you like Dalrymple then you might want to read his ''From the Holy Mountain'.
It is not specifically about Istanbul,but it is about the Byzantine world..including Turkey.Very interesting read....
There's also John Freely's Istanbul: the Imperial City. This covers (I think - going from memory) Ancient Rome, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire, so it covers a longer period even than Norwich does. This may be more up your street if you want to include the Ottoman period.
Thanks again thomajd!
Unfortunately I guess I'd only a week or so when I can do some good reading prior to the trip, so maybe only one book. So I have to do some shortlisting!
Free pdf download:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/78283675/A-Short-History-of-Byzantium-by-John-Julius-Norwich-Byzantium-the-Empire-That-Saved-Western-Culture#scribd
How long will you be there? By yourself or with family? I hope you'll be posting on your blog while you're there (or shortly after)....