Book Description
From one of TurkeyÂ's most acclaimed and outspoken writers, a novel about the tangled histories of two families
In her second novel written in English, Elif Shafak confronts her countryÂ's violent past in a vivid and colorful tale set in both Turkey and the United States. At its center is the “bastard” of the title, Asya, a nineteen-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and the French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazanci family who all live together in an extended household in Istanbul: Zehila, the zestful, headstrong youngest sister who runs a tattoo parlor and is AsyaÂ's mother; Banu, who has newly discovered herself as a clairvoyant; Cevriye, a widowed high school teacher; and Feride, a hypochondriac obsessed with impending disaster. Their one estranged brother lives in Arizona with his wife and her Armenian daughter, Armanoush. When Armanoush secretly flies to Istanbul in search of her identity, she finds the Kazanci sisters and becomes fast friends with Asya. A secret is uncovered that links the two families and ties them to the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres. Full of vigorous, unforgettable female characters, The Bastard of Istanbul is a bold, powerful tale that will confirm Shafak as a rising star of international fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Easy way home.......2007-08-07
I have read another book by E Shafak - The Flea Palace - which I liked better. This one has some unanswered issues that were disapointing, although the armenian genocide is well displayed. It was was unclear to me the way characters react and interact and I found hard to believe the links between them. Maybe the approach is TOO North American for my taste, although the book is well written and is always a great pleasure to "travel" to Istanbul under any excuse.
'The past is anything but bygone'.......2007-08-03
This novel caught my attention because of media coverage. It kept my attention because of the characters and the way the story developed.
For me, the central theme of the novel was interpretation and denial of truth. We see how, over time, facts can be distorted and reinterpreted, or just denied. All of this is in the much broader context of the treatment of the Armenians in 1915 - which resulted in Ms Shafak being accused of 'insulting Turkishness'.
You can - if you choose - ignore the politics and be swept up by the wonderfully idiosyncratic characters. The narrative style meanders through the lives of the characters sometimes avoiding aspects that might seem important to the reader in favour of details that appear incidental.
Still, each of the main characters (particularly the women in Istanbul)and to a lesser extent the family in the USA keep the story moving. Who can resist the notion of using Auntie Feride's hair colour as a guide to her insanity? Or Auntie Banu's relationship with her djinns? The younger women: Asya and Armanoush are not, in my view, as well developed but perhaps that is for other reasons.
The result is an interesting story built on shared but contested history. Ultimately, as in all struggles, there are 'winners' and 'losers'.
Recommended.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
a timely story.......2007-07-14
Despite the somewhat clunky prose (you can tell English isn't the author's first language), I loved the book. Having lived in Istanbul for four years, I felt Shafak accurately captured some of the tensions involved in being a modern urban Turk burdened by the nation's history and geography, and managed a very difficult (but important) topic with great sensitivity and fairness. Highly recommended.
A GOOD INSIGHT INTO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RIFT.......2007-07-07
I BOUGHT THIS TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ARMENIANS AND THE TURKS. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SIMILIARITIES. VERY WELL WRITTEN. I ANTICIPATED A SURPRISE ENDING BUT DID NOT FIGURE IT OUT. AN EXCELLENT NOVEL WITH A SETTING UNFAMILIAR TO AMERICANS
A novel of lovers in Turkey.......2007-05-30
Any review of Elif Shafak's latest novel, THE BASTARD OF ISTANBUL, is sure to mention the surrounding controversy. When the book was published last year in Turkey, Shafak ended up facing a prison sentence because of what her fictional characters say about the massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, a tragedy not officially recognized by the Turkish government. This drama could overshadow the book itself, but instead it should contribute to the poignancy of the story.
The titular bastard is Asya Kazanci, a young woman living in Istanbul in a house of eccentric and loving women. Asya is rebellious, even though her "aunties" are fairly tolerant. She is obsessed with the music of Johnny Cash, smokes cigarettes behind her family's back, and ditches the ballet lessons they pay for so that she can sit and drink in a cafe with a bunch of world-weary existentialists. Asya's rebellion is inherited from her mother, the stunning "auntie" Zeliha who had Asya when she was just 19 and now runs a tattoo parlor catering to the artistic and secular of Istanbul. Shafak suggests that Asya's rebellion is part of being an Istanbulite, and the city itself is a major character in the novel. Zeliha has never revealed the name of Asya's father, and much of Asya's identity is tied up in her being a "bastard." But her identity as a woman, as a Turk and as a daughter of Istanbul will be challenged when a bold Armenian American woman arrives on her doorstep.
Armanoush Tchakhmakhchian is a college student in Arizona. Raised between her Armenian family in San Francisco and her mother and Turkish stepfather in Tucson, she, like Asya, struggles with identity. She feels deeply connected to her Armenian ancestry and is often ashamed of the fact that her mother married a Turk, Mustafa, after she and Armanoush's father divorced. She decides that a trip to Istanbul, to explore her family's past and to reconcile her feelings for Turkey, will allow her to move on with her life and sort through some of her confusion. She decides to stay with Mustafa's family in Istanbul, and Mustafa's niece happens to be Asya.
When Asya and Armanoush meet, they each begin to sort out their personal, national and ethnic identities, and uncover several family secrets.
THE BASTARD OF ISTANBUL is both funny and sad. Shafak's prose, although sometimes heavy-handed, conveys the spirit of both young women and the city that connects them. Readers feel for the characters who, often kooky, seem quite real (and mostly likable). The violence against the Armenians is addressed with respect and without being preachy. It is only sentences such as this that can slow the story down: "If there is an eye in the seventh sky, a Celestial Gaze watching each and every one from way up high, He would have had to keep Istanbul under surveillance for quite some time to get a sense of who did what behind closed doors and who, if any, uttered profanities."
Shafak nicely blends realism with a touch of the supernatural and mystical for an enjoyable and subtly thought-provoking read. She evokes the sights, sounds, smells and especially the tastes of Istanbul; her portrait of the city is at once romantic and brutally honest. It soon becomes clear that, despite the title, Asya is not really the central character. The story focuses on the relationship between Asya and Armanoush as each tries to negotiate a partially concealed past and an unknown future. This allows the unfolding of the stories of the two families, the Tchakmakhchains and the Kazancis, and how they are deeply connected. By the end of the novel, family secrets are revealed, and while the characters learn much, Shafak allows them to maintain certain notions and prejudices even as she attempts to strip them from her readers.
In the end, despite some problems with the prose, THE BASTARD OF ISTANBUL is an interesting book from a young novelist who already has made her mark in world literature and deserves to be read apart from the surrounding controversy.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Book Description
In the 1960s Claudia Roden introduced Americans to a new world of tastes in her classic A Book of Middle Eastern Food. Now, in her enchanting new book, Arabesque, she revisits the three countries with the most exciting cuisines today—Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon. Interweaving history, stories, and her own observations, she gives us 150 of the most delectable recipes: some of them new discoveries, some reworkings of classic dishes—all of them made even more accessible and delicious for today’s home cook.
From Morocco, the most exquisite and refined cuisine of North Africa: couscous dishes; multilayered pies; delicately flavored tagines; ways of marrying meat, poultry, or fish with fruit to create extraordinary combinations of spicy, savory, and sweet.
From Turkey, a highly sophisticated cuisine that dates back to the Ottoman Empire yet reflects many new influences today: a delicious array of kebabs, fillo pies, eggplant dishes in many guises, bulgur and chickpea salads, stuffed grape leaves and peppers, and sweet puddings.
From Lebanon, a cuisine of great diversity: a wide variety of mezze (those tempting appetizers that can make a meal all on their own); dishes featuring sun-drenched Middle Eastern vegetables and dried legumes; and national specialties such as kibbeh, meatballs with pine nuts, and lamb shanks with yogurt.
Claudia Roden knows this part of the world so intimately that we delight in being in such good hands as she translates the subtle play of flavors and simple cooking techniques to our own home kitchens.
Customer Reviews:
Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon.......2007-09-26
What a beautiful, well laid out, and enjoyable read this cooking book is.
It brings the feel and culture of the countries into the recipe sections. The meals that I have tried are excellent, very easy to follow.
Like exploring the world without leaving your kitchen.......2007-08-06
"Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon" shares a delightful collection of recipes, each of which makes you feel as if you are experiencing a vibrant part of another culture. From Tala_ Börei, which takes you into the kitchens of Turkey, to Moroccan Briwat Bi Tamr (Dates Rolls in Honey Syrup), spending time with this book is akin to taking a culinary trip around the Middle East. Each chapter includes an introduction to the cuisine & history of the part of the world it seeks to represent. It is in sections like these that we learn, for example, about Lebanon's history as a feudal state and how interactions between Sunni Muslim, Greek Orthodox and Ottoman culture influenced the cooking we recognize as Lebanese today. Such socio-historical tidbits are sprinkled throughout the book, while chapters are organized into sections about "starters & meze," "main courses," and "desserts." Many recipes are accompanied by mouth-watering color photographs, so that this well-bound, artistically presented book would make a lovely coffee table book when you're not using it in the kitchen. Most of the dishes I tried were truly delicious, opening my eyes to new spice combinations and flavors. It was not until this book, for instance, that I would have thought to add cinnamon, pine nuts and currants to a meat dish (vegetarian meat dish in our kitchen, but the principle is the same), nor would I have thought to add pomegranate molasses and cumin to a salad. On one or two occasions I wasn't thrilled by the final result, but one cannot expect to fall in love with every recipe in a cookbook, especially one that is composed of meals so dissimilar from what you eat on an everyday basis. Recipes do assume that you have a firm grasp of basic cooking principles but at no point is this a hindrance. With internet access just a step away it is an easy thing, after all, to verify what "stiff egg whites" look like (Alton Brown did an entire show about this) or what greek-style yogurt is. Overall this book is a worthy addition to any collection - if you buy it and want my advice, make the Briwat Bi Loz (Almond Pastries in Honey Syrup) first. Not only are they easy to make, but the combination of crispy fillo, crunchy almonds and sweet syrup is hard to resist. Variations with confectioners sugar & orange blossom water are included for even more delightful exploration of this Moroccan dessert.
love it!!!!!!.......2007-05-14
I just love this book, the stories and recipes. I bought three and gave them as gifts, and I think I'll keep buying some more!
Brilliant.......2007-05-12
Claudia Roden manages to amaze me every time. Each book is distinct and the theme for Arabesque is summer. She offers a lot of grilled items, eggplant favourites, lots of lemon, olive oil and amazing desserts and not one bad recipe! She is a gracious, generous, loyal to all who taught her recipes and just lovely. This book makes a great present.
Yum.......2007-05-10
Roden presents Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines with delicious results. The recipes are clear, easy and just plain good. Try the zucchini fritters "kabak mucveri," the roast shoulder of lamb with couscous and date stuffing "dala m'aamra bi keskou wa tmar" or prawns in spicy tomato sauce "kimroun bil tamatem." A glossary would have been a good addition and the book's organization by country is a bit awkward, but the index is thorough and broken down by ingredients. For the cook interested in this food genre, I would also refer them to books by Wolfert and Heiou, as well as Roden's previous writings. A terrific addition to any cook's library.
Book Description
The second novel in David Gemmell’s bestselling Troy trilogy. Interlacing myth and history, and high adventure, this is epic storytelling at its very best.
War is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, each with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder.
Into this maelstrom of treachery come three travellers: Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret; Kalliades, a warrior with high ideals and a legendary sword; and his close friend Banokles, who will carve his own legend in the battles to come.
Together they journey to the fabled city of Troy, where a darkness is falling that will eclipse the triumphs and personal tragedies of ordinary mortals for centuries to come.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
imaginative story, pulp writing.......2007-09-23
Shield of Thunder, like Lord of the Silver Bow, both show great imagination in plot, but pure pulp delivery. If you get a kick out of this period in history, by all means read these books, but I doubt if you'll be moved to reread them.
I am so sorry to hear that David passed........2007-09-09
I have read all of David's novels and loved them all. He shall be missed. Great job David. GOD's speed and blessing be upon you.
Solid adventure.......2007-08-13
Part two of the late David Gemmell's Troy trilogy is begins a few months after the failed attempt at removing King Priam from power in Troy. Princess Andromache is adjusting to life at court, while Hektor is sailing the seas and fighting off pirates; he's filling in while Helikaon (known to us as Aeneas) is sick. King Odysseus, King Agamemnon and several other rulers attend the wedding games of Hektor and Andromache, and trouble is stirred up and brought to the boiling point. The last third of the book is devoted to the series of battles that make up the early years of The Trojan War, which is made out to be something like the ancient world's version of World War II.
Once again David Gemmell creates a real living, breathing world out of something that has been romanticized and usually seems inaccessible to the modern reader. Gemmell has taken a very human approach to the Trojan War story, by eliminating the gods and making the heroes human with real strengths and weaknesses. The action scenes are bloody and seem pretty realistic (though it is never gratuitous). While this is a bridge book, it never felt like it, except that while a major battle is completed by the end, the war is far from over. Also while the gist of the story is the same, many of the details are different. Like the marriage of Paris and Helen are mentioned, but it is hardly the reason for the war.
I really liked this book, and Gemmell's fans will not be disappointed with it. I am eagerly waiting for the last book, due out soon.
Troy remix.......2007-06-14
The Shield of Thunder continues Gemmell's exciting, refreshing Trojan War series. With its action, noble warriors, and gorgeous, heroic women, it is the equivalent of a summer blockbuster (a good one, not a Michael Bay film). I like how Gemmell strays from the classic mythology by reducing Hektor and Achilles to supporting characters, exalting Aeneas and Andromache as primary characters, and creating new characters in Kalliades and Banokles. This isn't Homer's Trojan War: Helen and Paris play a minor role, and the Olympians seem to be sitting this one out. To be fair, the novel displays little complexity; most of the characters can be summarized in one sentence. The good guys are heroes and the bad guys are rapists. Even when the good guys turn bad briefly, they're still good. I also thought that the opening premise about Andromache was not resolved completely; and the outcome of the Kalliope storyline felt a little like a copout. In the next volume, I hope Gemmell (or his designee, RIP) gives us a Mykene as a primary character so we can see the war from the "enemy" perspective. I highly recommend the novel and the series and look forward to the next installment.
Can't wait for the third book.......2007-05-21
David Gemmell has breathed new life into a well-known story and made the Bronze Age come alive. His rich imagination created a host of new heroes and heroines of hitherto secondary characters of Iliad without sacrificing the voice of Homer. I hope we'll get to see the third book published, completing this wonderful trilogy.
Average customer rating:
- A helpful partner...
- EXCELLENT SOURCE
- good info but little else
- comprehensive useful
- I love Eyewitness Travel Guides
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Turkey (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Manufacturer: DK Travel
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Binding: Turtleback
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Lonely Planet Turkey
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Greece Athens & the Mainland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
ASIN: 0789483297 |
Book Description
From Greek and Roman ruins such as Ephesus to busting bazaars to virgin beaches, this guide brings the reader the best that Turkey has to offer. Includes extensive coverage of the different quarters of Istanbul and highlights places such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Customer Reviews:
A helpful partner..........2007-09-15
I purchased this book a week before departure so it was hard to almost impossible to read it all before leaving.
But things were just fine, as I came up to something or concerns or words I don't understand, I just looked it up in the index and I found almost anything I was looking for.
The basic information is very good. I love the detailed maps of the mosques. It really gave me a perfect idea of where I was and what I was about to see.
The maps were rather general, because my hotel wasn't in the map, and it was a bit hard to tell the taxi to go there. But it helped a lot at least to get around by foot and not getting lost. The metro guide is excellent.
I love the end part where the book shows some basic phrases in Turkish. I actually used it very often to get around and be friendly with local people.
My trip was very enjoyable and successful, and I appreciate having this "royal and helpful partner"
Thanks!
EXCELLENT SOURCE.......2007-08-10
For the average tourist taking one guide book on their trip to Turkey, this book is a must! It is clearly laid out and easy to use. I have given it as a gift several times.
good info but little else.......2007-07-03
I hate to be the one to rain on DK's parade, but I don't care for it at all. I have been to Turkey before and, as my old books were out of date, I thought I would try an Eyewitness Guide, a series I've not used before.
There is lots of info in this guide, but it is delivered with all the flair of a biology textbook. The facts are there, but there is nothing to stir anticipation. There is nothing that makes you say: "Wow--I want to go there". Its hotel and restaurant recommendations, very important for independent travel, are almost nonexistent, and those there are, are almost all upper end stuff. There is no interest in the ambiance of a place--there is more emphasis on whether there is a TV in the room. I'm far more interested in a hotel's great view or a restaurant being trypcal of the region. The cuisine of Turkey is one of the reasons to visit, but food and drink are hardly mentioned. There isn't even a menu translation, an invaluable feature, unless you always eat at tour bus restaurants with english menus.
I will say that DK's maps and photos are outstanding, but that's not enough to recommend it. It's back to LP for me.
Mike Harrel
comprehensive useful.......2007-06-12
An excellent guide for an overall basic picture, beautifully presented. No in depth cultural coverage but excellent source of basic general information
I love Eyewitness Travel Guides.......2007-05-09
I do love Eyewitness guides. They cost more, but they really do have a format that is easy to use. I like them not only for quick trips but for longer stays, too. The one on Turkey does not disappoint.
Book Description
Byzantium, 1096. A mysterious assassin releases an arrow aimed at the emperor---but he has more than just a man in his sights. A keystone of a crumbling empire, the emperor is the solitary figure holding all the enemies in check. And if he falls, the mightiest power in Christendom will be torn apart.
Demetrios Askiates, unveiler of mysteries, is hired to catch the would-be-killer. But he is entering an unknown world; a babbling cauldron of princes, slaves, mercenaries, pimps, and eunuchs. Not all enemies are within the city walls, however, and with the Turks running rampant across Asia, the emperor has sent to the west for mercenaries to reinforce his position. When a great army, tens of thousands strong, appears before the city gates---the emperor gets more than he bargained for. From the depths of the slums to the golden towers of the city palace; from the sands of the hippodrome to the soaring domes of Ayia Sophia; Demetrios must edge his way through a glittering maze of treachery and deceit before time runs out.
Intent on making their fortunes in war, and with no allegiance to this empire, the first crusaders have arrived with eyes full of jealousy and suspicion. As the armies of the east and west confront each other, and with the assassin creeping ever closer to his prey, Demetrios must untangle this golden web of intrigue that surrounds the emperor---before the city, and the empire, are drowned in blood.
“His portrayal of the Byzantine city and the intrigues that threaten its destruction is vivid and convincing.”
---The Sunday Times (UK)
“It’s a world that Harper brings exuberantly to life, clearly revelling in its teeming, tumultuous extravagance. But he also has a sharp eye for an intriguing mystery.”
---Yorkshire Post (UK)
“Tom Harper writes with strident clarity in this epic tale of murder and betrayal, bloodshed and romance. Gripping from the first page, the reader is swept up.... Well researched and cinematic in its imagery, this is a fast-paced and exciting debut.”
---INK (UK)
“A gripping tale...I look forward to Demetrios’s further adventures.”
---Elizabeth Hawksley, Historical Novels Review
“A lively adventure.... The imperial palace, with all its splendor and intrigue, is brought vividly to life.”
---Good Book Review (UK)
“An engaging romp---Byzantine not only in time and location but the ins and outs of the plot.”
---The Advertiser (Australia)
Customer Reviews:
Very fun story that will actually take you to Byzantium.......2007-07-30
No spoilers.
I'll have to agree with another reviewer here who noted that the immediate flaw in this novel is that there is little introduction or background given about the protagonist, Demetrios, until about a quarter of the way into the book. Having said that (and overlooking it because you eventually find out about him), this is definitely a book I recommend.
Although I began to suspect who the Emperor's true enemy was before it was revealed, even that, which is something that I usually hate when reading a mystery, didn't take away from the quality of the story. Harper, with ease, immerses the reader into eleventh century Byzantine society to the point where you almost believe you are reading these events unfold in the present, right outside your window.
I fully recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and who wants to be transported into their story.
Conspiracy, Spies, Betrayel, Epic Battles - Medieval Times.......2007-01-23
Medieval Times. What a...mysterious time in our (human) past. After the fall of Rome, the world dived into a 1000 years of turmoil, wars, Crusades, and so much more. How much fun!
Set during the time of Emperor Alexios, we have a great, huge story which brings the reader right into the story from the first page, to the very end. Our hero is Demetrios. Former mercenary, turned "investigator" there is a plot to assassinate the emperor, and take over the empire.
We are weaved through a fine tale, based on much fact, of betrayel, loyalties, and much more. Who tried to kill the Emperor, and why? With a barbarian army from France marching towards the city, the turks lurking just a few hundred miles away, we are setup for a final scene unlike more others. Will Demetrios find out who and why tried to Assassinate the Emperor?
The book is extremely well written. Great characters, again, many based on actual events and people. Tom Harper shows his knowledge of the times, with a very convincing story.
Whether you are a fan of the times or not, this book will entertain you. Not for a minute was I counting the pages left.
A Fascinating Read.......2007-01-06
Tom Harper is a pseudonym of Edwin Thomas who grew up in West Germany, Belgium and America before returning to England to study history at Oxford university. The mosaic of Shadows is about a period of history that I enjoy reading about very much, but even if I am slightly biased I believe that the book is a really good read for anyone interested in historical murder mysteries.
The book takes place in Byzantium, the year is 1096, 30 years after the bastard Norman, Duke William had captured the throne of England from the grasp of Harold at Hastings.
When an attempt is made on the life of the emperor by a mysterious assassin, whoever sent the killer to try to murder the emperor knows that it was not just a man who would have been killed by the assassin's arrow but an empire in decline. If the emperor should fall then the mightiest force in Christendom will be torn apart. Only too aware of his precarious position the emperor hire the unveiled of mysteries, Demetrios Askiates to catch the would-be-killer. But even for one such as Demetrios the task of finding the killer is all but impossible. An unknown world of prince's and paupers, slaves mercenaries, harems and eunuchs. From the slums to the golden palace, enemies are lurking in the shadows, but not all are within the wall of the city.
The first crusaders have arrived and are intent on making their fortunes. They hold no allegiance to an enemy they eye with suspicion. As they armies of the east and the west confront each other across a barren landscape, the assassin prepares to make another attempt upon the life of the emperor. Can Demetrios untangle the web of deceit and intrigue that surrounds the emperor and his city before it is too late and one of the greatest empires of all time crumbles into the dust . . .
A fine first.......2007-01-01
Mr. Harper certainly knows his Byzantine and Crusader history and culture, and has stuck close to the reality of the times. He can also spin a detective tale. There may be scenes the reader will doubt, but it's all true. Mr. Harper does not invent the mechanical lions that bristled and roared next to the Emperor's throne to frighten barbarians.
A nice mix of personal/family issues and detective work, as well as great historical events. The mix of the first two might remind one of Lindsey Davis's Falco, but unlike either Davis or John Maddox Roberts in their top-notch Roman detective series, Harper is not also a humorist. The book is a straightforward historical mystery, but unlike Rosemary Rowe's Libertus series, it isn't just a non-stop series of clue-unraveling. Harper is never dull reading.
Enjoyable story by young author.......2005-12-03
After the disaster at Manzikert, the great Byzantine Empire calls for help from the 'barbarian' west. Emperor Alexios Komnenos appeals for mercenaries to help him re-capture his Asian province (modern-day Turkey). Instead, the west responds with the First Crusade. The Crusaders are anxious to confront the Turks who occupy Jerusalem, but they have no interest in helping Alexios regain his lost province. When Alexios demands their oath that any conquests within his former territory be returned to him, they refuse. Political hardball? Perhaps. But when an assassin's bolt nearly kills the Emperor, the Emperor's eunuch hires ex-mercenary and now detective Demetrios Askiates to uncover the truth.
Pieces of the truth are easy enough to discover. The bolt could only have been fired from a western crossbow, the kind the Franks outside the city carry. And a monk who seems to follow the western rites is clearly responsible. But the eunuch knows that a foreign monk cannot be the center of the plot. Some 'Roman' must be involved--one with enough power that he would be in a position to have himself proclaimed Emperor if the current Emperor falls.
Author Tom Harper does a fine job describing the city of Constantinople under siege, the Greek intrigues that so frustrated the western Crusaders, and the various groups of mercenaries who defended the Empire while the mob often controlled its fate. Demetrios Askiates makes an intriguing sleuth, with his concern for his daughters and his ambivalent feelings toward the beautiful doctor, Anna. We can, perhaps, forgive 26-year-old author Harper for believing that a man in his mid-thirties is over the hill and unable to carry weapons effectively.
Fans of historical mystery will want to pick up MOSAIC OF SHADOWS--and hope that we soon see more by Tom Harper.
Average customer rating:
- This explains The Black Book
- lost in melancholy
- wonderful and evocative
- Orhan and the City
- A dreamy account of the past and growing up in Istanbul...
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Istanbul: Memories and the City
Orhan Pamuk
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1400033888
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Book Description
A shimmering evocation, by turns intimate and panoramic, of one of the world’s great cities, by its foremost writer. Orhan Pamuk was born in Istanbul and still lives in the family apartment building where his mother first held him in her arms. His portrait of his city is thus also a self-portrait, refracted by memory and the melancholy–or hüzün– that all Istanbullus share: the sadness that comes of living amid the ruins of a lost empire.
With cinematic fluidity, Pamuk moves from his glamorous, unhappy parents to the gorgeous, decrepit mansions overlooking the Bosphorus; from the dawning of his self-consciousness to the writers and painters–both Turkish and foreign–who would shape his consciousness of his city. Like Joyce’s Dublin and Borges’ Buenos Aires, Pamuk’s Istanbul is a triumphant encounter of place and sensibility, beautifully written and immensely moving.
Customer Reviews:
This explains The Black Book.......2007-06-13
Pamuk has lived in the city all his life: Istanbul, one of the most fascinating cities in the world, with a heavy and rich history as a city, capital of an empire, the spiritual heart of the new country Turkey. Having been to Istanbul I love the city and was fascinated by Pamuk's stories and photos (there are many black and white photos in the book). His main topic is, those who are of Istanbul have an inherent right to a special Turkish-Istanbul melancholy. He is very open about his family and feelings and growing up, his fears and loves.
This book explains a lot of Pamuk's The Black Book. If you read one, you should read the other.
lost in melancholy.......2007-06-12
A very melancholic memoir that at times seems to get lost in a not there not here, not east not west time and space ! somewhat interesting but not very compelling
wonderful and evocative.......2007-04-13
I found this truly wonderful and evocative in many ways--a place I had never been and always wondered about, history I knew only dimly, a way of life I hadn't imagined, how they changed from long before the author was born until he reached 50, and the feelings of a bright and sensitive child growing up there. The pictures are a great addition and would be truly miraculous if they could be larger and clearer than they are in the paperback. I could not find out whether they are better in the hard-back.
Orhan and the City.......2007-04-04
In his characteristic child-like voice of open-eyed wonder, Orhan Pamuk gives you not a tourist's or even a cultural tour of Istanbul, where he has lived all his life, but rather a key to the metaphors of place that link each of the author's books to each other.
A dreamy account of the past and growing up in Istanbul..........2007-04-02
In all Pamuk's novels, I like the digressions, descriptions and ambience most; I don't think the plot construction is his strength. That is why "Istanbul. Memories of the City" might be his best book - it is not a novel and there is no plot.
There are three planes present in "Istanbul". The first one is made of Pamuk's memories of the city, its specific kind of melancholy, which affects all Istanbullis ("huzun", which the author describes in comparison to the feeling studied by Robert Burton in "The Anatomy of Melancholy" and other melancholic European writers, finding examples also in the works of the writers who visited Istanbul and on whom the city left its unique mark, as well as bringing to mind the typical Sufi attitude), its dying, disappearing old neighborhoods with decrepit wooden houses and mansions, and the atmosphere of a former capital, which days of splendor passed long ago. Pamuk, born and raised in Istanbul, has never really left the city and still lives there, having come back to the apartment building, belonging to his family, where he spent most of his childhood. He reflects on Istanbul's influence on its denizens, including himself, and passionately describes his own ambiguous attitude to his city, his love mixed with hatred and boredom, his desire for change combined with his need to preserve the old charm...
The second level is the history of Turkey, from Byzantium, according to Pamuk, neglected and deemed unimportant by the Turks as a period which has left only the Greek minority and not much else behind, through the Middle Ages, times of Ottoman Empire and Ataturk, to the end of the twentieth century. Each period is described with nostalgia, but not without sharp criticism. Pamuk demonstrates his distance both towards the urge for westernization, the copying of European standards, and towards nationalism, chauvinism, feeling of superiority and dislike for Greek, Armenian and other minorities. He expresses his views firmly yet gently, without offense but leaving no doubt what is his opinion.
Interestingly, the third level, the most personal one, which is the memoir of the author's childhood and youth, shows his own doubts, prejudices and mistakes and his search for his own identity as a modern Turk as well as a creative artist. While the chronology of the Istanbul and Turkish history is not very precise, Pamuk's life proceeds from his birth to the student times more or less in order. He describes his life with the extended family, full of quarrels and hypocrisy, and his closest relatives - his mother, who seemed full of longing for something better, his father, failing in his business enterprises and living a second, separate life, his older brother, meticulous and teasing, and his grandmother, the queen of the household, who observed everything from her bed. Then, he proceeds to the account of his earliest, most personal, intimate feelings, then his school years, his artistic ventures, first, romantic love, unfortunate choice of architecture as the course of studies and, finally his arrival to the decision to become a writer.
All the planes combine in a unique way, wandering the streets of Istanbul evokes the historical memories, and the city undoubtedly had its giant share in shaping Pamuk's personality. The narrative flows in a characteristic, dreamy manner, with numerous references to literature and art, analyzing famous European works and introducing the Western readers to the Turkish poets, writers, journalists, painters and photographers. Pamuk's (Turkish?) obsession with the West is very visible, more than in his novels, the echoes of which sound in every passage in "Istanbul". Snow, always present in Pamuk's writings, appears here with double intensity, together with familiar themes of journal columnists, eloping couples, and family intrigues.
The book is full of carefully chosen, black and white photographs, some from Pamuk's family archives, some found at the old photo shops (the sources are listed at the end of the book), placed carefully between paragraphs. The pictures of cobblestone covered streets lined with wooden mansions, of streetcars and taxis, of laundry hanged to dry in the tiny cul-de-sacs, of the Bosphorus coast, enhance the text, add to the dreamy, magical quality and make excellent illustrations.
Book Description
Liotard's fine portraits of Westerners in Turkish dress, Carpaccio's turbaned figures, and the coveted "Turkey" carpets that appear in paintings by Lotto and Holbein bear witness to a deep Western fascination with all things Ottoman. It is this cultural influence, spanning five hundred years—from the fall of Constantinople through to the twentieth century—that unites the wealth of paintings, drawings, photography, and decorative objects in this sumptuously illustrated book. The result is a visual feast of Turkish delights, from the exotic allure of the harem and Turkish baths to Ottoman-inspired Western interiors and pavilions; from paintings of Europeans in Turkish costume to carpets, silks, tulips, turbans, Iznik tiles, coffee, tobacco, and croissants. The delightfully informative text explains how Turkey, the gateway to the East, became a fountain of inspiration for so many artistic and cultural fields—painting, ceramics, textiles, interiors, fashion—in the West. Today the many fruits of this cultural meeting, enticingly displayed in this book, will engage a fresh audience with the decorative possibilities of the ravishing colors, motifs, and furnishings of traditional Turkey. 150 color photographs.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Amazon.com
From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years, and as a result has experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.
This bestselling guide is the ticket to no-nonsense travel in Turkey. Far-reaching coverage of the sights--from the modern to the ancient--is complemented by a Turkish food guide, useful language section and glossary, and thorough accommodation coverage (from hostels to hotels). A section devoted to Turkish carpets explains everything from traditional patterns to making a good buy. --Kathryn True
Book Description
Imagine Byzantine chariot teams clashing as you cross the Hippodrome in Istanbul. Hear the whoosh of the flame in the balloon as you float over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Tackle Yusufeli Gorge's mighty 'King Kong' rapids on the Coruh River. Learn how to cut your raki with water to lessen a hangover.
Eight authors, more than 300 days of in-country research, 123 detailed maps, dozens of doner kebaps consumed.
Special trekking chapter, complete with resources section, by trekking specialist Kate Clow.
From the caravan trail to tips for daredevils, explore Turkey your own way with our in-depth itineraries.
Content updated daily: visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews and traveller suggestions.
Customer Reviews:
american living in turkey- great guide.......2007-10-15
Come ivsit Turkey and use Lonely Planet to help you with your tour! I have lived in Turkey for a year. The Lonely Planet goes everywhere with us...it is worn and bent and highlighted and marked up and excellent. We have been completely happy with all the suggestions from LP. Here is the thing. Turkey is a fabulous country, however, there are a few things LP cannot control.
1. The prices are inaccurate but that is not LPs fault. The Lira is very unstable and has had an outragous inflation rate. Also, you have to be good at bargaining to get a good rate and most of us Westerners are uncomforatble with this.
2. Directions/ getting around....the majority of Turks rely on public transportation. There are VERY FEW road signs if you are driving. LPs maps are great, but unfortunately hard to follow without signs. I know people are sometimes frustrated with the bus routes...they can be inconvienent and drop off in the middle of the night, and hard to find your way around if you don't speak Turkish....again not LPs fault. Just keep asking for someone who speaks English to help you and the hospitable people of Turkey will find someone.
I find LPs history background one of the best things about it. It is just enough to get you interested in seeing a place and you can supplement it by GOING to the museums. We have been 100% satisfied, but you must have realiztic expectations.
This book covered all areas of my interest.......2007-06-06
From pensions to informative summaries on the ruins this book covered all basis. The guide was accurate in their description of places and allowed us to travel around freely without assistance even though we had only about 20 words of Turkey under our belt. It came back well worn and happy.
Lonely Planet Turkey--great preparation for your trip.......2006-11-04
This book provides a well rounded view of the country, from its history and culture to the best places to stay, eat and shop. It's easy to read and navigate and a great help in planning a trip.
Good, but not as good as other Lonely Planet.......2006-10-07
As a disclaimer, I am a huge fan of the Lonely Planet travel guides. I like to travel, and have lately traveled to quite a few countries following recommendations from Lonely Planet. Just before going to Turkey, I was in Greece "with Lonely Planet".
Compared to other Lonely Planets, this book on Turkey is weak and the part about Istanbul in particular has been a disappointment.
My comments apply to the 9th edition published in April 2005. I have sent very specific comments to Lonely Planet, and I do certainly hope that future editions will improve on the weaknesses of the 9th edition.
The bottom line is that if you are looking for a travel guide to Turkey, you might still want to consider getting the Lonely Planet, but I recommend you shop around and also look closely at other alternatives.
Inaccurate and out-of-date.......2006-10-03
This guide is seriously out of date. This applies not only to prices, and relative prices, but also to critical information about what is available and how to find it. Having used it (Sept., 2006), my advice is not to rely on it without checking independently that what it says is available and how to get there is correct. Otherwise you may find that you have been expensely (in time or in money) misled. Since you should check with other sources, you might as well simply forget this guide, which is one of the worst I have ever used. Its recommendations about what is worth seeing and the state of hotels, while often useful, can also be wildly wrong.
Average customer rating:
- A powerful set of full-page, full-color images goes far beyond the usual city focus to capture Istanbul's crossroads cultures.
- Perplexing- Didn't meet my high hopes.
- One of the Great Street Photography Books
- familiar faces and corners...
- Alex Webb's Istanbul
|
Alex Webb: Istanbul
Orhan Pamuk
Manufacturer: Aperture
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1597110345
Release Date: 2007-05-01 |
Book Description
In Istanbul: City of a Hundred Names, Magnum photographer Alex Webb displays his particular ability to distill gesture, color and contrasting cultural tensions into a single, beguiling frame. He presents a vision of Istanbul as an urban cultural center, rich with the incandescence of its past--a city of minarets and pigeons rising to the heavens during the early-morning call to Muslim prayers--yet also a city riddled with ATM machines and clothed in designer jeans. Webb began photographing Istanbul in 1998, and became instantly enthralled: by the people, the layers of culture and history, the richness of street life. But what particularly drew him in was a sense of Istanbul as a border city, lying between Europe and Asia. "For 30-some years as a photographer, I have been intrigued by borders, places where cultures come together, sometimes easily, sometimes roughly." The resulting body of work, some of Webb's strongest to date, conveys the frisson of a culture in transition, yet firmly rooted in a complex history. With essay by the Nobel Prize winning novelist, Orhan Pamuk.
Customer Reviews:
A powerful set of full-page, full-color images goes far beyond the usual city focus to capture Istanbul's crossroads cultures........2007-09-03
Alex Webb's photographs reflect a powerful set of images revolving around Istanbul's culture and peoples, and is a top pick for any collection strong in the region's history and culture, from art libraries to general-interest collections. Both traditional and contemporary culture come to life in a volume which reveals Istanbul's attractions as a rich urban cultural center. A powerful set of full-page, full-color images goes far beyond the usual city focus to capture Istanbul's crossroads cultures.
Perplexing- Didn't meet my high hopes........2007-08-17
I've tried, I've really tried, but I just can't bring myself to like this book. I get what he's trying to do here, but it doesn't stir any emotion in me. My friend, who studied under Minor White and lives in Istanbul, also said that it does not show anything unique about Istanbul, but that he makes it look like any other city.
I'm a photographer and Istanbul is one of my favorite destinations to shoot street photography. Perhaps my idea of Istanbul is much too different. What I would really like to see is an updated version of Ara Guler's book titled Istanbul. He's also a Magnum photographer, and he did a very good job probably about 30 years or more ago.
Also the Orhan Pamuk essay was just taken from Orhan's book Istanbul. Nothing new there.
One of the Great Street Photography Books.......2007-07-20
I visited Istanbul in 1988, almost 20 years ago. It was a visit that left me in awe of the uniqueness, beauty and complexity of this historic and important city. It is a great pleasure to have revisited Istanbul, this time not actually, but through exceptional photographs of Alex Webb.
The photographs are not only evocative of the real life of the streets, but are depictions of people going about the daily lives with very little awareness of their being photographed. Alex Webb's level of skill in composition and timing is of the highest order. His ability to work unnoticed is incredible.
The photographs are followed by a most thought provoking essay by Nobel Laureat and Istanbul resident Orhan Pamuk. I found the text so interesting that I have ordered his book on Istanbul as well.
Be aware that Alex Webb's photos have remarkable visual richness, with multiple layers of foreground and background. The possess great vibrancy of colour, honestly caught human expression and a busy city's sense of action and movement. I would recommend spending some time on each photo to draw out the vast offering of information and emotion within each one.
Well worth the purchase; particularly if you have visited Istanbul, or long to go there.
familiar faces and corners..........2007-05-29
Alex Webb has done a great job for sure.As an ameteur photographer living in Istanbul for all my life ,I enjoyed the photos so much that i gave myself permission to see maximum 3 photos per day.here's why;
I found lots of familiar sights with different tastes.So different that i see almost everyday of my life. I think Mr.Webb's success in this book is based on his experince on his photograpy skills, his full understanding of a nation, its values( such as the flag's importance for us, Ataturk-the founder of our republic), religion (the scarf and people), history, architecture, sociology and culture.
The photos are being shot in a wide range of time during Mr.Webbs's visits to Turkey.On the other hand ;
To be honest Mr.Pamuks(2007 literature nobel prize winner) essays are unlucky to be in this book just because the phots tell everything that no words are necessary to fill in the blanks.
As i mentioned in my review that the book has so familiar daily sights from my life that,i've found a woman i knew in one of his photos ,shot at 2001 while she was waiting a bus in the bus stop.She was really surprised to be in this book as she didnt feel anyone shooting eventhough she remembers the day so clear that day.Mr.Webb found the real light of Istanbul and that day it was 07:00 in the morning.We decided together that we ll ask for a signed copy from Mr.Webb by a letter or email.
Thank you Mr.Webb for these magnificent shots and for pushing me to go out and shoot again in the city i belong.
Alex Webb's Istanbul.......2007-05-23
Once again, Alex Webb has NOT surprised us. What we have come to expect from Mr. Webb--brilliant images containing muted colors juxtaposed with bright colors and framing within framing--has made its way into Istanbul.
This book details not only the everyday routine of the Turkish people, but also sheds light on the customs that make life in Istanbul worthy of a heartbeat.
Set within burnt orange boards, this book is a must have for both Webb admirers and those who have a fascination with Turkey in general and/or Istanbul in particular. For those who are familiar with the Magnum cooperative, more than a few of the plates seem to borrow heavily from Martin Parr. In one image children are seen sunbathing atop sharp rocks near the sea and in another image bright, framed posters are being hawked to passersby.
This book will surely go on to be another of his greats, like 'Hot Light/Half-Made Worlds.'
Enjoy!
Books:
- The Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi (Princeton Field Guides)
- The Birds of Pennsylvania
- The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
- The Book of North American Owls
- The Finest Atlas of the Heavens / Der Prachtigste Himmelsatlas / L'atlas Celeste Le Plus Admirable: Harmonia Macrocosmica (Harmonia Macrocosmica of 1660)
- The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology (Animal Natural History Series, Vol 2)
- The Glorified Dinosaurs: Origin and Early Evolution of Birds
- The History of Management Thought
- The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
- The Longest Season
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