baltic station market review

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(as of Dec 29, 2024 02:51:13 UTC - Details)

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.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (July 1, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140244611
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140244618
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.11 x 1.34 x 7.75 inches
Reviewer: nick
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A sensational story well told
Review: Full of black humor, dark and light. Absurd and very real at the same time. Gives a great feel for the sensational city of Istanbul. I hope that politics are not destroying the wonderful city that is the heart of this book, though I fear that the right wing government wants to do away with Ataturk's miracle Turkish flavored International City. But this novel gives you the feel of a positively changing culture, with the hangover feelings and impacts of out of date male/female relationship patterns on two people trying to adjust their lives to a new order. By carrying their examples to the extreme, the absurdist result gives lots of laughs and lots of insight into the Turkish world and perhaps the world in general. His feel for everyday life in Istanbul is sharp and accurate and informative as an introduction to the City and People who have stood at the heart of this greatest of Cities for thousands of years. I am about to visit the Museum of Innocence created by the author to memorialize the characters of the book and the Istanbulish details of life and obsession in the heart of Turkey. What a great book!

Reviewer: Alaturka
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Istanbul From Inside
Review: Prof. Freely has walked the streets of Istanbul a lot more than many of the locals and has a good grasp of the cultural and historical significance of this great city.I was lucky enough to be his student, and then assistant, at Bogazici University along the Bosphorous, old Robert Academy, where he taught Physics for many years. He has an excellent eye for catching that little strange detail that many Istanbullians take for granted but what may be a direct link to either the Ottoman Imperial past or all the way back to Romans.They did not call themselves Byzant by the way, and Ottomans did not call them Byzantians either. Both knew they were Romans, Eastern Roman to be exact. Numerous European rulers over the centuries have tried to assume the "Roman Emperor" title and dreamt of re-creating the glory of the Roman Empire, so they have usually found it hard to acknowledge the true heritage of Constantinople.This is a little more than just a street guide, but not exactly a historical treatise either. Thank you Prof. Freely.

Reviewer: pendermd
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: great inforamtion and easy read but no maps
Review: Great information. Had the kindle version and the maps did not come with it. Good tour guide info in last section

Reviewer: Nesrin Shaheen
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A very readable history
Review: I wish I had had time to read this book before my trip to Istanbul. I discovered it on my father's bookshelf only days before my departure for Turkey. I read it upon my return and found it both interesting and valuable in understanding this beautiful city that straddles both East and West. I then bought a copy as a gift for someone with an interest in the history of the city. This book is a great introduction to the history of Istanbul. HIGHLY Recommend!

Reviewer: L Samma
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Awesome/Entertaining
Review: I purchased this book to read during a trip to Istanbul and it was the perfect guide accompanyment. If you are interested in history and want to delve deep into Istanbul's history while visiting here, then I strongly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down, and the book covers everything - from its days as Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul and all the brutal, crazy leaders who have resided here. I like how key landmarks and areas of the city are mentioned regularly in here. It makes actually seeing the sites that much more rewarding.You will not be disappointed if you get this book. It is absolutely fantastic.

Reviewer: Louis
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: It gives a great overview
Review: I'll be traveling to Istanbul in the spring, and I like to do as much research as possible on my vacation destination. Knowing only the briefest sketch and general overview of Byzantine/Constantinople/Istanbul history, this book helped to flesh out a lot of the history and, indirectly, the philosophy of the empires that made it their HQ. It was an excellent place to start, and now I know what to zero in on for my particular interests. It moves very quickly and touches on a bit of everything, ruler by ruler, going over the architectural structures (or destructions) from their reign, and what can still be seen of them.

Reviewer: Mark Tyner
Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Not what I was expecting....
Review: I'm about 150 pages into this book. If you're interested in geneology - who gave birth to who - this is the book for you. The book briefly mentions the Hagia Sophia - it briefly mentions what lead to the schism between the Greek and Roman Churches but continues to onslaut the reader with geneology - which has become a bit boring. No doubt the author has done his research - but I was hoping to get a better idea of what Istanbul was like - the arts, the food, the architecture. There is an index of monuments at the end of the book. I'll continue to slog away and let you know....

Reviewer: Ann L.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A bit superficial account of Istanbul
Review: I was born and lived in this city even though I am Italian. This book does not go enough in depth of the city

Reviewer: Barbara Huckleberry
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This book is beautifully written and helped us during our sightseeing tour of the old city. The historical part of the book is very informative. It is always interesting reading about a city through the eyes of a foreigner who has lived there and loves the city!

Reviewer: Fiske Harrison
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Excellent

Reviewer: Sceptic 435
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A fascinating and lucid account of the complex past of this important city

Reviewer: Woigle
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A dense history with some fascinating detail - fine if that's what you're looking for. I wanted a readable introduction prior to a visit to Istanbul, and while the information was there, it was a bit difficult to digest for my purposes.

Reviewer: Edson Light
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Excellent