A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul

Set against the majestic backdrop of Imperial Istanbul in the aftermath of the First World War, A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul weaves a captivating tale of family, duty and the indomitable human spirit. İstanbul, 1922: As the Ottoman Empire crumbles in the wake of the Great War, the fate of the Imperial capital and the House of Osman hang in the balance. Emboldened by victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish Nationalist Government abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate, bringing an end to over six centuries of Ottoman rule. Although the Ottoman Caliphate endures for now, Istanbul is stripped of its Imperial mantle and mourns its lost glory. Amidst this tumultuous period, Prince Nihad navigates the shifting political landscape with deep concern for his nation and the future of the Imperial family. Meanwhile, his son, Prince Vâsıb, envisions a peaceful future following the Treaty of Lausanne and yearns to see his city liberated from foreign occupation. As the new Republic of Türkiye emerges from the ashes of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and the Imperial family confront a pivotal moment in history, their destinies entwined with the dangerous tides of the Bosphorus. Surrounded by perilous currents that separate East and West, members of the Dynasty face challenges that test their resilience and unity as they chart a new and uncertain course. Journey back in time to witness the final days of Imperial Istanbul, and follow Prince Nihad and Prince Vâsıb as they grapple with personal aspirations, family loyalties, and the legacy of an Empire in transition. Experience history's unfolding drama through their eyes, exploring the profound impact of change and adversity on individuals in their quest for survival and meaning in a world entering a new era.

Brothers bound by blood but fated to be enemies. Can their Empire survive or will it crumble into myth? Istanbul, 1903. Since his younger brother usurped the Imperial throne, Sultan Murad V has been imprisoned with his family for nearly thirty years. The new century heralds immense change. Anarchy and revolution threaten the established order. Powerful enemies plot the fall of the once mighty Ottoman Empire. Only death will bring freedom to the enlightened former sultan. But the waters of the Bosphorus run deep: assassins lurk in shadows, intrigue abounds, and scandal in the family threatens to bring destruction of all that he holds dear… For over six hundred years the history of the Turks and their vast and powerful Empire has been inextricably linked to the Ottoman dynasty. Can this extraordinary family, and the Empire they built, survive into the new century? Set against the magnificent backdrop of Imperial Istanbul, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus is a spellbinding tale of love, duty and sacrifice. Evocative and utterly beguiling, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus is perfect for fans of Colin Falconer, Kate Morton and Philippa Gregory. "A richly woven carpet of a book." Historical Novel Society "With intelligence and sensitivity, Ayşe recreates the dramatic story of our family." Kenize Mourad, author of the international best-seller Regards from the Dead Princess

Taking place in Istanbul, Salonika, Paris and Macedonia between 1908 and 1926, Farewell, My Beautiful Homeland is the story of lives that have been turned upside down by rebellion, revolution and war. It is the story of the Greek declaration of independence, of the Jews of Salonika being forced into exile, of the Bulgarians fighting for their independence and of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the struggle to create a new nation out of its crumbling ruins. It is also the story of one man’s search for his true calling amidst the chaos of a turbulent historical era, the story of a man caught between his love for his country and his love for his woman. Farewell, My Beautiful Homeland is a story of unfulfilled dreams and the call of history. And underpinning it all is one fundamental question, one fundamental struggle: which takes precedence – the state or the people?

Focusing on everyday life in nineteenth-century Britain and its imperial possessions”from preparing tea to cleaning the kitchen, from packing for imperial adventures to arranging home décor”the essays in this collection share a common focus on materiality, the nitty-gritty elements that helped give shape and meaning to British self-definition during the period. Each essay demonstrates how preoccupations with common household goods and habits fueled contemporary debates about cultural institutions ranging from personal matters of marriage and family to more overtly political issues of empire building. While existing scholarship on material culture in the nineteenth century has centered on artifacts in museums and galleries, this collection brings together disparate fields”history of design, landscape history, childhood studies, and feminist and postcolonial literary studies”to focus on ordinary objects and practices, with specific attention to how Britons of all classes established the tenets of domesticity as central to individual happiness, national security, and imperial hegemony.

I was born in December 1954 or January 1955 (‘when the first snow fell’) as the third child of a Kurdish family living in a remote village of Eastern Turkey. My father died of tuberculosis at the age of 31 when I was six years old. My mother was 34, never married again, dedicated her life to her children. From the moment I learned how to read and write I became a passionate reader of the books; books of literature, books of history, books of travel, books of philosophy, books of memoirs, books of biographies, books of politics… This book contains excerpts on Constantinople (today Istanbul) that I noted while reading. As per Philip Mansel, Constantinople was “the city of world’s desire” and “one of the world’s most exotic and exciting cities.” For English nobleman Sir Alfred Rawlinson, "Going down the Bosphorus was a wonderful sight. I have seen no place in the world like that.” Lord Byron wrote in a letter to his mother, “I have seen the ruins of Athens, of Ephesus, and Delphi. I have traversed great part of Turkey, and some of Asia; but never beheld a work of nature or art which yielded an impression like the prospect on each side from the Seven Towers to the end of the Golden Horn.” I have seen Constantinople for the first time in the year 1973 and fall in love with this city of grandeur, life, love, memory and beauty… Sezai Arli Doha, April 2021

I was born in December 1954 or January 1955 (‘when the first snow fall’) as the third child of a Kurdish family living in a remote village of Eastern Turkey. My father died of tuberculosis at the age of 31 when I was six years old. My mother was 34, never married again, dedicated her life to her children. From the moment I learned how to read and write I became a passionate reader of the books; books on literature, books on history, books on travel, books on philosophy, books on memoirs, books on biographies, books on politics… This book contains some of the history excerpts that I noted while reading important books on history; mostly on history of Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Middle East, Levant, and Europe... These are excerpts of knowledge, excerpts of wisdom, excerpts of reflection of remarkable men about history of mankind both ancient and contemporary… Sezai Arli Doha, November 2020

Farewell Espana transcends conventional historical narrative. With the lucidity and verve that have characterized his numerous earlier volumes, Howard Sachar breathes life into the leading dramatis personae of the Sephardic world: the royal counselors Samuel ibn Nagrela and Joseph Nasi, the poets Solomon ibn Gabirol and Judah Halevi, the philosophers Moses Maimonides and Baruch Spinoza, the statesmen Benjamin Disraeli and Pierre Mendes-France, the warriors Moshe Pijade and David Elazar, the fabulous charlatans David Reuveni and Shabbatai Zvi. In its breadth and richness of texture, Sachar's account sweeps to the contemporary era of Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco, poignantly traces the fate of Balkan Sephardic communities during the Holocaust -- and their revival in the Land and State of Israel. Not least of all, the author offers a tactile dimension of immediacy in his personal encounters with the storied venues and current personalities of the Sephardic world. Farewell Espana is a window opened on a glowing civilization once all but extinguished, and now flickering again into renewed creativity.