Turkey Books

I own an original first edition (and did not realize its value until recently), but in searching for this book to add a link from within my new book on Irregular Warfare: Waging Peace, I realized the reader is faced with two choices today, one costing $4 more than the other. I believe I found the explanation in the less expensive version, which is described as "severely abridged." So all things being equal, buy this version instead.

There is no finer summary of this work that I have encountered in my literature search than "T.E. Lawrence And the Mind of An Insurgent" by James J. Schneider, Ph.D., a professor of military theory at the School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S. Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Previously published in 2005 in varied works, it can be easily found online by searching for the author and title.

My preliminary research for the new book shows that the Lieutenant Colonels/Commanders and some Colonels/Captains of the Navy get it, but the flags do not. Even the vaunted counterinsurgency handbook avoids dealing with three realities:

1. Absent a moral legitimizing strategy that includes a commitment to sufficiency of presence, no occupation will succeed.

2. Absent a national intelligence community willing and able to jump deep into Multinational, Multiagency, Multidisciplinary, Multidomain Information Sharing and Sense-Making (M4IS2), no commander will succeed.

3. It costs asymmetric irregular warriors $1 for every $500,000 they force us to spend with our present idiotic emphasis on technology as a substitute for both thinking and human presence. They can keep this up forever, we cannot.

IMHO, Dr. Schneider's distillation is utterly brilliant, and if the publisher issues a new edition, I urge the publisher to obtain permission to include Dr. Schneider's distillation as a new professional preface.

Although I have a very very large personal library (photo at oss.net), here are the books I bought today as part of my homework. In the comment I provide the URLs for the pieces I have had printed locally.

Modern irregular warfare: In defense policy and as a military phenomenon
The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism
Counterinsurgency and the Global War on Terror: Military Culture and Irregular War (Stanford Security Studies)
Asymmetric Warfare: Threat and Response in the 21st Century
Guerrilla Warfare: Irregular Warfare in the Twentieth Century (Stackpole Military History Series)
The U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual
Never Surrender: A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom
Kill Bin Laden: A Delta Force Commander's Account of the Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man

Two other books I already own within my ten link limit:
War of the Flea: The Classic Study of Guerrilla Warfare
Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam

And everything written by H. John Poole, but especially Tactics of the Crescent Moon, Phantom Soldier, One More Bridge to Cross, and Tiger's Way. Also Col Hammes on Sling and Stone, Mao and Che, Max Manwaring's various works including Search for Security, Uncomfortable Wars, and Environmental Security....and on, and on, and on....IRWF is finally "in" now we just have to spend ten years waiting for the current flags to retire.

Although a bit confusing in his presentation of dozens of key characters unfamiliar to the reader, Lawrence paints an extraordinary sketch of a time and people otherwise just a footnote to World history. The richness of the text and word pictures were worth the time spent laboring through massive amounts of detailed narrative.

TE Lawrence (1888-1935) the British soldier, poet and scholar wrote this insightful personal account of the Arab Revolt based on his war journals which is as confronting as it is poetic and beautiful. How could one not be enthralled by the writings and perspectives of a fine intellectual mind tormented by the reality of war and hypocrisy? What makes this book unique and powerful is Lawrence's sensibility as a poet and a soldier. Even if you are not into war history, this is a riveting book you can't afford to miss.

This is one of the great books of the 20th century. That it could be written at all is almost a miracle in itself. Take a brilliant Oxford student trained in the old classical tradition, place him in the Arabian desert as advisor to the wild Bedouin tribesmen during their revolt against the Turks and have him write with an acute sensitivity and unparalleld insight into what was transpiring before him and you may have some notion of what the book is like.
It's a long book. You will learn a great deal about blowing up a railroad bridge in the desert, about camel rides, thirst, and hunger and the heroism and brutality of war. The portraits of Sheik Auda, Sherrif Ali and Prince Faisal of the two Arab boys who Lawrence takes under his wing are masterpieces in and of themselves. The nobility and savagery of the desert tribesmen contrasted with the cold stoicism of the British and the inculcated cruelty of the Turks are just some of themes addressed during the course of the work. There are brilliant passing insights as to the Semitic inspiration for all the revealed religions and their relation to the desert beautiful descripitions of the terrain the weather and the obstacles encountered. When Lawrence says that from the beginning he believed the Arab revolt would succeed because it grew out of a sympathetic population was opposed by a modern army that could not garrison the territory occupied one wishes that President Bush had read it instead of just seeing the movie. Read it yourself.

Rightfully regarded as a modern classic, this book is nevertheless not light reading. This is a result of the density of information, as well as Lawrence's writing style, which often makes a re-reading of passages necessary to fully grasp them, besides his use of some unusual vocabulary. But by the time one has completed the journey to Damascus with Lawrence and his Arabs, one has almost got a taste for his own peculiar style, even if one cannot always agree with his views, which however, were pretty progressive for a man who grow up at the height of imperialism.

There are, however, many contradictions in the man. At the start of the book, for example, he sympathizes with the unwilling Turkish conscipts, illiterate Anatolian peasants who really wished to be back home, led by a militaristic officer caste fresh from the Armenian genocide. Later in the book though, little sympathy is shown, and on one occasion when Lawrence was angered by the Turks, he did nothing to stop their massacre on their defeat, and left all their wounded where they fell - every one of hundreds froze to death in the cold winter night...

But when one considers that he lost both brothers in 1915 in France, his father in 1919 of the Spanish influenza, and his closest friend, and probably boyfriend, Salim Ahmed, shortly before his entry into Damascus, one can be more forgiving of his attitude. And who can forget his botched execution of Hamed, who'd killed another man? To avoid a blood feud, Lawrence suggested that he execute the man, which was insisted on by the Arabs. 3 shots with his pistol, one of which hit the man on his wrist. No wonder he said he couldn't sleep that night. Or his having to shoot long-time compatriot Farrah in the head as he was too seriously injured to move, and wanted to avoid the inevitable torturing to death of Arab prisoners. Enver Pasha, the Turkish commander, had thrown so many men live into his furnace that he knew just how long it took before you heard the sound of their heads popping. Considering this background of brutality, Lawrence comes across as positively humane.

The book has it's lighter moments though. Who can forget the tribe of the Ageyl, who were so poor they used to go into battle stripped to their loin cloths, both in the belief that it reduced their chances of infection if they were hit, as well as to protect their clothing from bullet holes or blood stains...the young Arabs urinating on others' wounds as the only antiseptic treatment in the desert...the Howeitat treatment of snake-bites - bind up the part with snake-skin plaster, and read chapters of the Koran to the sufferer until he died. Life was hard, and luxuries were few, something which seemed to attract Lawrence even more towards his mission of reaching Damascus and driving out the Turks, even if his conscience continued to bother him that the British Govt's promises to the Arabs were unlikely to be fulfilled.

Finally, Lawrence claimed he left the original manuscript on the train, and had to rewrite the entire book from memory, an amazing feat considering the wealth of detail here. Actually, it would be a superhuman task, and Robert Graves, one of his best friends, believes the story was a lie. The implication is that Lawrence made out that he'd had to rewrite the book by recalling his memories as a cover for the fact that parts of the book are invented, and many facts changed, and that this would be the perfect excuse should his information later be found to be inaccurate. But why claim to have blown up over 70 bridges when the real number was around 20 or so?

The answer is that this is a work of literature, and not a military textbook. We'll never be really sure of which parts are exactly true, and which merely invented as representing what typically happened. It's not always light reading, so set some time aside for this one, but when you get to the end, you'll be glad of having made the effort.

Turkish cuisine is interesting and healthy. After a recent trip to Turkey I came home longing for some of the those tastes and was able to recreate them with "The Sultan's Kitchen." The recipes are easy to follow and have really good explanations and "little tricks" for getting good results. The recipe for baklava is excellent. I followed Ozan's directions and it came our perfectly! While some of the recipes are a little involved and require some time you must understand that part of the fun of cooking Turkish is in the "doing" as well as in the eating.

An excellent book for lovers of traditional Turkish food-easy to understand and beautifully illustrated.I have travelled many times to Turkey and have never found an English language Turkish cookbook like this.

This is a wonderful book! I have tried three or four recipes from it now and got rave reviews from my guests. It is a beautiful book as well, the photos and printing are gorgeous and the background info on Turkey is very interesting as well. Definitely a new favorite in my cookbook library!

An excellent cookbook that is as wonderful to browse as it is to create from. Recipes from this book will delight the senses.

This is a wonderful cookbook for beginners or more experienced cooks of Turkish food. The ingredients are all in customary American style (no liters, ounces, or "Turkish coffee spoonfuls"). Instructions are clear and concise. Best of all there are closeup photos of many of the finished products - very helpful for those who don't know how the dish should look when served up. I like the Turkish serving utensils and other kitchenware (pepper grinder, wooden spoon) that add to the local scene. I also like the way the book gives the Turkish name of the food and then the American version in each recipe heading. Ozan has done an excellent job of giving all the information one needs to make these delicious dishes.

You'll want to read Gemmell's final book, 'Fall of Kings'. It's the final book of his 'Troy' series, and it's the best. He creates a realistic story around the Trojan War full of interesting characters you'll come to adore and despise. The series is composed of three books, which occupy a place of honor above my mantle because they were so entertaining.
This was actually Gemmell's final book - he died while writing it with his wife, and she finished it. I think it's his best book, and a good work to go out on.

Fans of the first two books can rest assured, this is a fitting conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. Close readers will notice the subtle changes from David to Stella Gemmell as the novel progresses, but thankfully Mrs. Gemmell skillfully finishes her late husband's work without damaging the tone of the previous novels. A very well done piece of work on her part, and a fantastic trilogy.

Brilliant conclusion to the Troy series, as a fan of David Gemmell's work this lived up to my high expectations. Well worth the purchase.

I read this book with sadness knowing that within it's covers was the very last story I will ever read from this wonderful author. Stella you did a fine job finishing the book and I am sure David would be proud. I loved the series, I loved the book. I shall miss Mr Gemmell, I have read every one of his books, some I have read multiple times, and he is one of the greatest storytellers in my humble opinion.

This is an excellent send off for the late great David Gemmell. His historical fiction about Troy tops his previous efforts about Sparta and Alexander the Great. Though you know the end of the story is going to be Troy falling, David brings you to it with so many twists and turns. Then when you think the end is near, there are twists beyond even that. Some might object to the altering of events from Homer, it is fiction and not a historic reproduction of events. I'm not sure how little Stella had to finish, but whatever part she had her hand in was unnoticeable from David's work. I noticed James Barclay's name in the acknowledgments, so perhaps he had a guiding hand in finishing David's last work. My only regret is that I have read all of David Gemmell's novels and will never get the thrill of spotting his newest book. Still, I have saved them all and will surely reread them many times over.

This is a beautiful book full of gorgeous photos and tasty dishes. However, I bought it expecting to find recipes with directions and techniques and it is lacking in this area. When a dish requires "2 eggplants," please specify: large, small, maybe a weight? There are a lot of different ideas of what the "average" eggplant looks like. Especially when there's no photo of the dish, and I've never cooked or eaten it before. Then there were some rather impractical dishes; I usually don't cook two whole chickens or several pounds of fish at a time, for example. I understand that some recipes are better for entertaining, but I bought this cookbook (as I buy all my cookbooks) as a way to try EVERYDAY recipes for my family, and I feel it failed in that respect. I am by no means a bad or inexperienced cook, and I've eaten some authentic (home-cooked) versions of these foods while traveling in areas mentioned in the book, but I still need more direction. Even after reading through the entire book (all the info about ingredients, history), I still felt lost at times. Say what you will, I am disappointed.

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.

Extremely impressed with this book, after I received my own copy I purchased a copy for my son who is a foodie. The recipes are exotic enough to make them interesting and I loved the history presented for each region.

Such a joy to read and pure pleasure to prepare the dishes. While the recipes are grouped by country, an American will likely mix across cuisines to produce a meal.

The mezza recipes are incredible. Perfect party food.

Well researched and written. Beautiful photographs. Cinnamon and spice and everything nice!

"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 Talaş Böreği, 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.

"Scotch and Holy Water, by John D. Tumpane, is a charming account of the adventures of a fun-loving group of American ex-pats in Turkey in the late 1950s and 1960s.

John D was a graduate of Yale who went to Turkey with his family's engineering business. I grew up around John D, and he was always a positive influence on me and the other kids around him. John D adored life and travel and language and people. He traveled extensively around Turkey, learned to speak Turkish quite well, and seemed to rejoice in exploring the Turkish culture.

John D often wrote short stories and "Scotch and Holy Water" is the book that grew from his collection of hilarious stories. He wrote lovingly about both the Turks and the American ex-pats. His writing describes the uniquely Turkish spirit of hospitality and joy of life. When he writes about the Americans, he emphasizes the exploration and fun. John D doesn't cover up the foibles of the Americans there in Turkey, but he does treat them gently and with kindness. Having grown up in the places and times he describes, I can attest to both the accuracy and the gentleness in John D's writing.

"Scotch and Holy Water" is full of good deep laughs from this earlier time of innocence.

THIS IS FOR ALL TURCOPHILES OUT THERE, OR ANY ONE INTERESTED IN A GREAT COUNTRY: TURKEY!

For perspective, I was 2 years old when John D met me and 12 years old the last time I saw him. As for the book, it's all true, and couldn't have been better said. I recall my father (Art) and mother (Mim) coming back from the evening excusions John D. and the others would go on and how the laughing never stopped. Like other readers comment, it all needs to be put in perspective. I recently loaned the book to an associate who just returned from Izmir...the book has yet to be returned. They're making another trip and have commented toward the value the book has offered in understanding the people and places. Like the many of us who endured there for over 10 years, as the book prefaces the subject, you begin to understand the people, like the people and land, and never want to leave...yearning periodically to consider a return trip.

I recommend the reading of this book...it's well worth the time...it'll make you laugh..consider, the literal interpretations that can only exist...

A must read for anyone who has lived or is living in Turkey. I laughed the whole way through and could relate to almost everything, even though it's 30 years later. The author captures the uniqueness, frustrations, and wonders of living in Turkey.

I am half american half turkish airforce military brat. I can vouch that the attitudes and ways in the book in the time it was written and even in general today are the turkish people.
It is a great way to understand the culture. I first read this book after finding it my fathers library when I was 18. I read it as almost his own stories from his stationing there earlier on.

This book can be used as inspiration, for pleasure reading, or as a manual on how to cope with a variety of intercultural situations on your trip to Turkey. Having spent nearly two years abroad here, I have taken in the stories in a variety of ways. I read them now like memories of my own, from my past, and as experiences to come. The book creates a feeling of camaraderie, as if the expat women are all sitting in a room together, chatting around the marble center stone of the hamam, confessing our trials and challenges, our resilience, our coping mechanisms and our pride in living in Turkey. Whether you visit Turkey as a tourist, or for good, this book will take you deeper into the culture and will inspire you to take similar adventures of your own. A powerful injection of humor, wit, joy and sorrow, all of these stories will make you feel like you have just experienced a whirlwind tour of Turkey through the eyes of strong, powerful women abroad, a book to enhance anyone's imagination of Turkey

I love the insights that the women provided about Turkey. I have never read a book that gave detailed first hand experiences. I am Mexican and I am married to a Cypriot Turk which brings a multitude of cultural differences in to play. When I was told that I had to call my mother in law- Anne, I freaked out. I love my mother in law but I only have one MOM. My own mother was the one that made me understand that it was OK and that I should accept these cultural nuances as they accept mine. Thanks to all the contributors of this book.

"Tales from the Expat Harem" was going around our book club. At first I avoided borrowing it, suspecting that the book would turn out to be a disappointment. I needn't have worried: though several of the selections in this collection clearly indulge in romantic embellishments, the book was anything but disappointing. I first came to Turkey in 1989 to meet my mother-in-law, but have raised my family and worked as a musician here for the past 13 years. My friends (some of the other émigrés have been here for almost 40 years!) and I quite enjoyed it, sympathizing and laughing with many of the contributors and their experiences.

"Tales from the Expat Harem" is a "well-written and well-edited," fun and almost overwhelmingly positive collection of personal experiences contributed to by many fascinating women from diverse backgrounds. But reader beware: this collection is not for those hoping to read sociology or travel literature; and though the stories, or anecdotes, all take place in Turkey, they aren't really about this country. As the review posted on this site entitled "Adventures in Self-discovery" points out, Turkey provides a common backdrop for the contributing authors' discoveries about themselves and their own cultures.

The unanimously positive reactions to this book [...] indicate that the authors have kindled a sisterhood between themselves and their readers, illuminating a sub-culture of feminist "expatriatism" (a term evidently used mainly by Americans but which the British find unnecessarily connotative). With a marginal shift of perspective and perhaps a slightly more scientific approach, it seems that further work in this field could acquire even greater meaning and substance.

really nice book to read - great for foreigners living in turkey, visitors to turkey or anyone who is simply interested in cross-cultural experiences! i can't wait for a version comprised of stories written by foreign men in turkey :-)

We don't seem to be too knowledgeable about countries in the Middle East area and this book will explode any and all stereotypes holding you back from learning from the Turkish experience of several diverse western women who either live there or have spent much time there. Each story is written by a different woman, usually about a different angle or aspect of the culture, and it is rich with warmth and human kindness and real people. It has certainly inspired me not to be afraid to travel to the region and I will the first chance I get! Captivating writing, delightful, mind-opening stories. Don't miss this book. I passed it along to my daughter. Halfway through, she called and said she was heading to the local Istanbul Cafe (here in the southwest) for lunch and was dying to travel to Turkey! It's contagious, the enthusiasm and love of the writers for the country and its people. Don't miss it!

Of the several guidebooks I've bought in three trips to Istanbul, this is the one that stays with me at all times when I'm finding my way around that most fascinating city in the world. The maps of the Old City and Taksim are the best and most accurate I've seen, and the bird's eye view cutaway shots of places such as the covered bazaar are extremely helpful. If you get only one Istanbul guide, let it be this one.

This book made my trip to Istanbul much more enjoyable than it would otherwise have been. Very well organized and jam-packed with helpful information. You'll still need a bigger street map of the city when you get there, but that's true about any destination.

Even my native Turkish friend, who is originally from Istanbul and whom I visited this past spring (with this book in hand), was fascinated by this book! He was really impressed with the layout, all the detailed and pertinent (and sometimes unique/unusual) information, the photos/drawings, the maps, etc. It also has good info about places outside the city.

I accidentally left the book behind after I put it down to pay for some things in a photo shop and didn't realize it was missing until a few hours later (I was with my own personal "tour guide," after all ;-)...my Turkish friend made his way back to the shop just to retrieve it for me (and thankfully the shop owner had kept it safe in hopes of the owner returning for it...and even he had looked through it and commented how good it looked)!

Going to Istanbul? GET THIS BOOK!

I just got back from Istanbul and I can say that this book was one of the things that made this a memorable vacation. The information is complete and (mostly) up to date (visa costs had been increased) but otherwise I found it easy to use and informative. The only other book I would recommend is "Imperial Istanbul" for the true history buff traveler.

This is THE BOOK to get for your travels to Istanbul - or Constantinople to us Greek Orthodox :-) I used this book when I was there five years ago, and let me be frank: it got me around every street, every landmark, every side alleyway, every bus route, every boat ride. The City is covered from head to toe in this book, with tons of useful information about hours of operation of mosques, churches, museums, and restaurants, plus great maps of the City and its surrounding neighborhoods, with detailed bus and tram schedules. In the back, it offers all the up to date information on hotels and hostels, plus important addressess and phone numbers for police, tourist bureaus, airports, and bus stations.

My personal favorite aspect of this book are the detailed pictoral discriptions of some of the great landmarks of the City: Hagia Sophia, St. Saviour in Chora, the Blue Mosque, Suleymanie Camii, Topkapi Palace to some of the more "off the beaten path" locations, such as the Church of Pammakaristos, the Basilica Cisterns, the Church of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus (Kuckuk Aya Sofya), and the residence of the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church. Rather than other guides such as Fodors simply writing it all down, Eyewitness literally "shows" you the information, so it's not only a great book to help you navigate the City, it's great to help you navigate the locations!

I carried this book with my at all times when I was in Turkey. I cannot recommend this book more than Amazon allows, but I'd give this book 10 stars if I could. It is the absolute best travel guide on the market today! I hope it will also serve you as well as it did for me!

In my second visit to Istanbul I bought this book at the Istanbul airport minutes before boarding the plane back home as a "divertissement" for the long flight. It turned out I couldn't put it down. Is a poignant memoir of a life style gone forever and happy times that would never come back. As a woman I ached for the mother, she is really the central character of the book, and of the author's life as well.
Is a sad, beautiful book which I enjoyed very, very much

Exellent book realy well written (if a little dry in some parts) This is Irfan Orga's personal biography of most of all how his mother held the family together in one of the most difficult periods of Turkish history. How his father sadly passed away fighting in Galipoli (something many Turks can relate to) but most of all the sad, pointless way he died as so many Turks did during those years not just in Galipoli but on the Eastern front against the Russians not by bullets buy by poor supply lines, confusion and lack of communication and support.

It should be kept in mind that Irfan Orgas family were of the middle class and were largely receptive of the reforms of Ataturk (I would be interested to read something from those who were not) There are some interesing parts of this book such as how when he was at school under the old system students would be punished for missing prayers under the new system they are now punished for attending them. How their hats (so important in Ottoman days) where slowly changed to have a peak on them in order both to make them more 'western' and also to prevent prayer.

Well written and interesing, worth a read.

Bought in a bookshop in Istambul in a more expensive edition. Found it deep on both sides of personal and historical insight. Relates from a child clear and sharp eye the involvement of Turkey in WWI and Ataturk "modernizing" impact on the country. Individual struggles outlined on common sufference and historical stream. Mooving and never pathetical. For foregner reader language is quite easy, reveals a non-native-tongue writer, yet is subtle and sort of classical. Pity most of I. O. books are out of print.
a.m.negri, pavia, italy

"Portrait of a Turkish Family" is a memoir of the decline of old Istanbul, and of the author's once-wealthy merchant family, during the military and economic crises that followed Turkey's entry into World War I, the wars of the early 1920s, and Mustafa Kemal's (Ataturk's) nationalist revolution. The book, republished by Eland Publishing Ltd., was written originally in English and in an elegant, end-of-the-19th Century style. In the Afterword, the author's son Ates, hints that his father Irfan planned the book and wrote a sketch, but that his aristocratic English mother drafted it. This warm and tragic remembrance is a minor classic of English literature; it echoes the aching nostalgia of the British upper classes for things oriental in 1950, the evening of the British Empire.

Though British in style and sentiment, the book belongs to Irfan Orga's very Turkish memories of childhood. It is his touching, often moving, evocation of the charms of a world lost forever; the world of servants, comfort, and of cloistered women and small children. Women of this social class stayed mainly at home in the Ottoman era, leaving their homes only with relatives and completely veiled. Small children were happily spoiled.

This charmed if out-dated existence was destroyed by Turkey's entry into the First World War and by the succession of military reversals that followed. These brought blockade, food shortages, inflation, and repeated drafts of militarily unqualified civilians. Many died, including the author's father; who was drafted, hardly trained, and sent off with his battalion, dying en route from marching day after day on swollen, bloody, and then infected feet. The fires that periodically ravaged old Istanbul burned the family home, and most of its savings --in paper notes- were lost. The tale follows the family's quick slide into poverty and even hunger, Irfan's mother's struggle to remake her self, by acts of will, to earn money through labor, and his grandmother's incapacity to adjust to new realities.

With the victory of the Mustafa Kemal's revolution, their mother places Irfan and his younger brother in officer candidate school, to avoid hunger and provide some education, and Irfan goes on to a career in military aviation and, during World War II, to a posting in Britain. What follows is sad, and according to the Afterword; although this book won recognition and sold reasonably well in Britain when it was first published, Irfan Orga fell into poverty once again.

Although Orientalism is famously out of fashion, this book is worth reading for its sincerity of feeling, for its extraordinary style, and for its personal point of view on the end of Ottoman Turkey. For an alternative point of view on Old Istanbul, this time of the 50s and 60s, read the Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk's Istanbul: Memories and the City. This is also a mémoire of childhood and youth, but it is less sentimental, and instead, absorbed with eccentric aspects of Istanbul's near-past.

Portrait Of A Turkish Family is the true and biographical story of a Turkish family's effort to persevere through incredible and disastrous wartime hardships by Irfan Orega, a son of that family. World War I brought poverty and desperation to the formerly affluent Orega family, and small triumphs over something as small as a silver candlestick became crucial pieces of hope for the family's survival. A powerful true story of endurance and adaptation, Portrait Of A Turkish Family is an extraordinary biographical testament and very highly recommended reading.

"Atatürk" by Patrick Kinross was first published in 1964. I found this book to be a highly compassionate view of Atatürk's life.

Patrick Kinross' narration is insightful and reads like a story; very different from a dry historical text presenting fact after fact. He draws a rich picture of the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in terms of the changing political, religious and social landscape of his country in the first quarter of the 20th century. Atatürk literally created the nation of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire as World War 1 re-drew the political lines of Europe.

He gives the reader a very personal understanding of the intense sense of purpose and duty that drove Atatürk throughout his life, and also how it led to many contradictions in his life. Atatürk created a secular nation by first engendering the support of eminent religious authority figures, without telling them his aim was a secular nation. Atatürk wanted Turkey to become just like a "modern Western democratic republic", but became a benign autocrat, leading a one party system where all representatives were hand picked by Atatürk.

Kinross begins with Atatürk's birth in Salonika and traces his troubled early school years and enrolment into the Military Secondary School where Atatürk discovered himself as a soldier and was given the first name "Kemal", meaning "perfection". From his portrayal of Atatürk in his younger years, we are given to understand that Atatürk developed very early a fierce sense of dedication to a country he recognized as flawed and in need of change. He demonstrates an astounding prescience, has a sharp mind, a passion for raki and debate, and an abiding abhorrence for what he saw as the role of religion in the decline of his country.

We follow Atatürk through the despairing times of World War 1, where Atatürk's actions and leadership are nothing short of heroic. The insights he develops into the military and political situation of the time picks him out as a potential threat to his superiors, but also identify him as an invaluable commander. For many years he works in the background to develop a network of resistance against the self serving Ottoman authority. Instead of bringing about a change of government, he finds himself pushed to the side as several revolutionaries take the fore, become despots in their own right and are then torn down - such as Enver Pasha. "Enver Pasha killed Enver Bey" is a telling quote I remember.

Eventually the situation for Atatürk comes to a head when the allies of the First World War begin plans to dismantle Turkey and occupy the country. Atatürk, using all his skill and cunning as a diplomatic, soldier and hero rallies a new line of defense that pushes the allies out of Turkey and forms a new government, the first Republic of Turkey.

I found some important subjects were left out or not given sufficient attention. There was only a passing reference to the swap of Greek and Turkish population in 1923. And although the Kurds' role in the independence war was described in some detail and the conflicts between Armenians, Kurds, Greeks and Turks over land was much discussed, there was no evaluation of Atatürk's attitude towards each group as a people or how this affected his actions.

At times, Kinross seemed too compassionate towards Atatürk, almost apologetic. The book made much of the contradictions within Atatürk, but rarely explored the darker side of his character. Instead, his actions were repeatedly explained or justified by his admirable sense of duty to his country. Nowhere was this clearer than in the portrayal of Atatürk's involvement in the Independence Tribunals of 1927. These tribunals were brought in to punish the leaders of a Kurdish revolt, but were also used to summarily round up all of Atatürk's political enemies at the time - including former friends and compatriots without whom the Republic of Turkey may never have come about.

I understand now, why there is still a deep reverence throughout Turkey for this politician and leader, Atatürk, who people still call the Father of Turkey. For he was truly the father of Turkey: he led a movement that completely and permanently changed the political and social face of the nation. Turkey changed from a caliphate to a republic, and that was just the beginning. After that, Atatürk gave the people a new language (yes, "gave" - he helped create it and personally taught it); laws were introduced changing the national costume; and women were made equal to men - all this in less than fifteen years!

I also understand that a major part of Atatürk's legacy is the shock of such massive changes introduced in such an extremely short time - a shock that still resonates today. At least one of the multiple coup d'état in the latter half of the 20th century (after Atatürk's death) were instituted by people who felt empowered to act by a sense of duty and revolution that Atatürk himself encouraged. The fact that religion lost its primacy under Atatürk also left his country with a deep and lingering conflict between religious and secular life that is at the forefront of Turkey's political situation today. Much like present day Indonesia, religious parties have gained prominence and seek to re-assert religion as part of government.

I began reading this book on the plane trip home from my first holiday in Turkey to visit my partner's family. It took me six months to finish the book and has given me a much deeper connection with this beautiful country and the people I met.

If you are a student of history, or if you have ever visited Turkey and wanted to know "how".. I highly recommend this book.

Review from my blog [...]

Unfortunately we know very little about the history of Modern Turkey and the Turkish people in general. I would even say all we know is unsubtantiated ...in general against Turks. This wonderful book of outstanding historian Lord Kinross is telling the real story behind the modern Turkey and the avant-guard philosophical foundations that created this modern republic out of ashes of a country which was torn off completely by wars followed one another. This book is clearly proving us that Ataturk is not only the most important political leader of our century but also may be some centuries back and some centuries forward yet to come. Any person from the developed Western societies who are serious about learning something about a nobel nation such as Turks and their genius humanitarian leader Ataturk, this is the book to read.

At 9:05 AM on each November 10th, all the inhabitants of Turkey stop their worldly activities and observe a few minutes of silence. They are observing the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, in 1938. Ataturk was a man larger than life. After the destruction of the Ottoman Empire during WWI he defeated western European powers bent on carving up the spoils for themselves, and formed the new Turkish Republic in 1923. Ataturk was directly responsible for the disaster inflicted on British and Australian forces at Gallipoli, dramatized in the 1981 Australian motion picture. He also fought unsuccessfully against T. E. Lawrence and his Arabs. After forming the new Turkey, he completely reformed its society, replacing the arabic alphabet with latin, abolishing both polygamy and the fez, and installing a secular government. Lord Kinross' masterful book captures the broad scope and the thrilling details of the life of this amazing man and demonstrates his influence on the 20th century. Ataturk is one of the best biographies ever written, about one of the most interesting men in history.

having searched for a book on this leader but finding it out of my price range i happened to find a copy for £10 in Turkey of this book. It is a brilliant read. A man forgotten in the west but so properly idolised in turkey. Now I understand what all the fuss is about. This character is no Mussolini, Stalin or other jumped up tin pots but a man of the most amazing integrity and insight. It is amusing the way Lloyd George spend his whole career trying to undermine him but in the end with the defeat of the grekks fell from power due to his integrity. A tear passed my eye reading about the death of this hero and I certainly felt that i understood a bit more the respect and emotions theTurks have towards him.

I am Turkish. So I have read lots of things about Ataturk throughout my education. But it was all about the events like wars, revolutions, treaties but not the feelings about this great man. Now I understand some of his moves better.

I think everybody can learn something from this book but especially people of Turkey should read it to learn what kind of events our nation lived on our way to freedom and what kind of differences a leader can make.

My hat is off to Joe Hutto. I have bought this as a Christmas gift for a turkey hunter, and I have no doubt he will enjoy it. But the story resonates to any animal lover or parent for that matter who has watched children come into their own. Joe writes in a style that is comfortable for the outdoorsman and yet tugs at something inside us that back porch naturalists can respond to. Thank you Joe, for sharing.

I loved this book about Mr Hutto spending a season with wild turkeys and befriending them. I read an earlier version of this paperback the year before last and I loved and absolutely enjoyed it. There should be more kindhearted animal loving people in the world like Mr. Hutto. I also loved the illustrations in this book. They are phenomenal. I loved the story and the photographs. Well written. If you love a book about wild animals, or animals period, this book is for you. Not only is this man a great writer but also a great photographer and illustrator/artist as well. A MUST READ.

Although I could not afford to purchase this book, I was delighted to get a copy from my library. I love the animal/human relationship, esp. when taken to its magical realm; the doors that open when entrusted by an animal. The sketches are sweet, simple and relay so much feeling; they are art. For a human to reach for this level of relationship is remarkable and to have it returned by animals is magical. Esp. the last par.: "...by some language that we both understand but cannot speak, and I could say: 'I know you, old friend. I recognize you by your iridescence, your incandescence, your illumination - I recognize you by your loneliness-you must be my brother.'" This book is a sort of recollection of who we are - our purpose. I love the double meaning of illuminated.

I believe this book is now out of print and I cannot imagine why. I have been a reader of nature oriented literature all of my life and feel that this is among the top 10 or 15. Extremely moving account of a biologists relationship with a group of wild turkeys raised and imprinted by the author. Read this!!

This is an incredibly beautifully written book. I never thought I would find it so interesting and spellbinding. I was doubtful when first beginning the book that the author would be able to maintain his observer status, but he did so remarkably well, raising the turkeys to be real wild turkeys. As I read the final line in the book, I felt I was closing a chapter in my life in which I had personally been involved with the turkeys and the author. I was impressed with Mr. Hutto's dedication to these remarkable birds, his keen observations, and also with his obvious "connection" to them. I hope he will write again in the future.