Product Description

Istanbul's history is a catalogue of change, not least of name, yet it has managed to retain its own unique identity. John Freely captures the flavour of daily life as well as court ceremonial and intrigue. The book also includes a comprehensive gazetteer of all major monuments and museums. An in-depth study of this legendary city through its many different ages from its earliest foundation to the present day - the perfect traveller's companion and guide.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150042 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

About the Author
John Freely first went to Istanbul in 1960 to teach physics at Robert College, now the University of the Bosphorus, to which he returned in 1993. His first book was STROLLING THROUGH ISTANBUL and he has subsequently written more than twenty other travel books including CLASSICAL TURKEY, STROLLING THROUGH ATHENS, and STROLLING THROUGH VENICE.

Customer Reviews

Indespensible for any stay in Istanbul, long or short!
This is a delightful combination of history and guide, addressing the history of Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul from the earliest Greek settlements to the present day. Mr.Freely provides a short but very readable account of the reigns of every Emperor and Sultan (and regardless of origin or religion the vast majority were a ghastly but entertaining bunch!) and sets them in the context of the growth of the city and of its principle monuments. The book is worth purchasing for the guide section alone, which is at the end, and which provides excellent short descriptions of al the main architectural features and archaeological remains. This reader's only regret is that the book had not yet been published when he spent significant periods in Istanbul, for it is not only unique in concept and format, but also superior to any other book he has encountered as a guide to this wonderful city. It can be thoroughly recommended for anybody making a visit to Istanbul, however short. Readers whose interest is whetted by the chapters on pre-conquest Constantinople will find that John Julius Norwich's splendid three volume-history of Byzantium provides the extra, and fascinating, detail they crave.

Disappointing
After the good reviews and recommendations I was disappointed by this book. Of course it is ambitious to chart 27 centuries of the history of one city but the book rather turns into one long chronicle of who succeeds whom as ruler of Byzantium with a lot of irrelevant names and relationships. Better books exist to both describe the architectural splendours of Istanbul and convey a sense of its atmosphere.

Istanbul revealed
I found this invaluable reading before my first visit to Istanbul. I felt able to connect with the city the moment I arrived. John Freely has a very informative narrative style and the book flows through the very complicated history of the area over the last 2,500 years with great detail but with excellent continuity. His feel for this part of the world and his delight in exploring it's history is obvious in his writing. Am looking forward to reading other books by him.