Böcker av Douglas Scott Brookes

Sheds light on Ottoman palace life in an era that witnessed some of the most wrenching changes in Ottoman history Exploring one small building in Istanbul, the Sultan Abdülhamid I Tomb, this book reveals the culture of death and life in the Ottoman palace from 1780 to 1860. It investigates the paths that open to us through the graves of royalty in the mausoleum and of eunuchs, concubines, courtiers and female harem staff in the garden graveyard around it. Enriched by archival documents, Ottoman chronicles and gravestone inscriptions, the insights into Ottoman palace life 'buried' at this site range from architecture, poetry, calligraphy and smallpox to funeral customs, turbans and harem life. In considering why this tomb and its garden graveyard look the way they do, we come to understand the role royal cemeteries played in strengthening the bonds between the Imperial Family and the people of the Ottoman Empire. Douglas Scott Brookes teaches Ottoman Turkish language at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has also taught courses in Ottoman history and culture. His other books include On the Sultan's Service (2019) and Harem Ghosts (2016).

In vivid and engaging style, Douglas Brookes uses the royal tomb of Sultan Mahmud II as a window onto the past, exploring the insights the tomb reveals about Ottoman culture in its splendid last decades. Woven into the tale are the life stories of the Turkish royals and harem concubines interred in the mausoleum, and the illustrious Ottomans buried in the tomb's garden.

Three women who lived in the Ottoman imperial harem between 1876 and 1924 describe the lifeways of the imperial family, dispelling Western stereotypes of harem debauchery.

Suitable for everyone from kids to adults, this title looks specifically at the history of two resort communities on the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan. It celebrates our common need to get away from the humdrum, and it can be welcome reading for all of us daydreaming of crystalline lakeshores.