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Midnight at the Pera Palace
The Birth of Modern Istanbul
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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,847 ratings, 279 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book will appeal to readers interested in history, especially those fascinated by the complex cultural and political dynamics of early 20th-century Istanbul. It suits enthusiasts of historical biographies, espionage tales, and cosmopolitan urban stories illuminated by meticulous research and elegant writing.
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See moreCharles King brings to life a remarkable era when a storied city stumbled into the modern world and reshaped the meaning of cosmopolitanism.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
At midnight, December 31, 1925, citizens of the newly proclaimed Turkish Republic celebrated the New Year. For the first time ever, they had agreed to use a nationally unified calendar and clock.
Yet in Istanbul—an ancient crossroads and Turkey's largest city—people were looking toward an uncertain future. Never purely Turkish, Istanbul was home to generations of Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, as well as Muslims. It welcomed White Russian nobles ousted by the Russian Revolution, Bolshevik assassins on the trail of the exiled Leon Trotsky, German professors, British diplomats, and American entrepreneurs—a multicultural panoply of performers and poets, do-gooders and ne'er-do-wells. During the Second World War, thousands of Jews fleeing occupied Europe found passage through Istanbul, some with the help of the future Pope John XXIII. At the Pera Palace, Istanbul's most luxurious hotel, so many spies mingled in the lobby that the manager posted a sign asking them to relinquish their seats to paying guests.
In beguiling prose and rich character portraits, Charles King brings to life a remarkable era when a storied city stumbled into the modern world and reshaped the meaning of cosmopolitanism.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Praised for its richly detailed narrative and immersive prose, the book has been acclaimed by critics including Simon Winchester who highlighted its intrigue and vivid portrayal of fading Ottoman splendour. The Economist and The New York Times lauded King’s ability to weave micro- and macro-history seamlessly, making the city’s spirit palpable. Reviewers note the book’s success in capturing the vibrant, and at times sordid, life of interwar Istanbul with intelligence and nuance.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780393351866
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 November 2015
Country: United States
Imprint: WW Norton & Co
Illustration: 32 photographs
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 30.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 211.0mm
Weight: 384g
Pages: 496
About the Author
Charles King is a professor of international affairs and government at Georgetown University. A frequent media commentator on global issues, he is the author of Gods of the Upper Air, Odessa, Midnight in the Pera Palace, and other books. He lives in Washington, DC.
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