See also the abyssinian proof and the winter thiefby jenny white. Youssef rakhas groundbreaking novel the book of the sultans seal was published in egypt in february 2011, less than two weeks after then egyptian president. I was outgrowing childrens books anyway, and started to find sustenance in arabic books, magazines, and. Kamil pasha is a magistrate trying to introduce western methods of investigation and prosecution in a rigid and arthritic culture. Apr, 2007 the sultan s seal by jenny white, 9780393329209, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Rich in sensuous detail, this debut novel brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning ottoman empire. Thankfully its not about that at all, but instead a mystery set in. She is intimately familiar with the history and culture of istanbul and turkey, having lived and studied here for years in connection with her work in social anthropology.
Weapons on the left and right symbolize the ottoman armies. Green medallion on the sun with the sultan s seal tughra within symbolizes the great ottoman dynasty. Modeled on a medieval arabic manuscript in the form of a letter addressed to the writers friend, the book of the sultans seal is made up of nine chapters, each centered on a drive our hero, mustafa corbac. Mona anis, alahram weekly a great novel, the ultimate in. Our list is devoted to works of literature, history, contemporary politics, travel, art, and cuisine from around the world, often from areas underrepresented in. Then through an old custom divorce her after forty days and nights. A magistrate in the new secular courts, kamil pasha, sets out to find the kill. The sultans seal by jenny white 2007, trade paperback. It was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign. Doesnt the title of this book sound incredibly trashy. This intricate mystery is set in the exotic locale of nineteenthcentury turkey, the ottoman empire in turmoil, the british insinuating themselves into local politics in. Feb 17, 2007 the sultan s seal was a wellplotted, beautifully written novel set in istanbul in the last days of the ottoman empire.
The book of the sultan s seal strange incidents from. Mustafa corbacis stream of consciousness carries the reader along in a weird and wonderful coherent swirl of words that conveys his. The book of the sultans seal circles around cairo, remapping the city as it moves. White paints a remarkably vivid portrait of life in 19th century turkey, from the luxurious sultan s palaces to the most. A magistrate in the new secular courts, kamil pasha, sets out to find the killer, but his dispassionate belief in science and modernity is shaken by betrayal and widening danger. The death resembles the unsolved murder of another englishwoman, a governess, ten years before. Her first novel, the sultans seal, introduces kamil pasha, the ottoman magistrate, orchid collector, aesthete and eligible bachelor who works to untangle the. Youssef rakhas extraordinary the book of the sultans seal was published less than two weeks after then egyptian president hosni mubarak stepped down. The book of the sultan s seal is an outstanding first novel by an author who has a special ability to deal with modern and classical material, both arab and western, with equal ease.
Nov 03, 2014 the book of the sultan s seal by youssef rakha translated by paul starkey. A magistrate in the new secular courts, kamil pasha, sets out to find the killer, but his dispassionate belief in science and modernity is shaken by betrayal and widening. The sultans seal by jenny white books hachette australia. The book of the sultans seal, which feints in the direction of an intrusion of the supernatural into the world of contemporary cairo, does so in such an odd way, by focusing its narrative on a restoration of the ottoman caliphate. The book of the sultan s seal is made up of nine chapters, each centered on a drive our hero, mustafa corbaci, takes around greater cairocity of post911 islam. Discover the sultans seal as its meant to be heard, narrated by nadia may. Sultans and crocodiles reorient middle eastern arts and. Both book of the sultans seal, translated by paul starkey for interlink, and the crocodiles, by robin moger for seven stories, are due to appear this winter in the united states. This complex novel from rakha the crocodiles is set in 2007. Part confessional, part letter to a friend, part philosophical treatise and a journey of selfdiscovery. In late 19th century istanbul, the body of a young englishwoman has washed ashore, and it soon becomes apparent that she was not only a.
The sultans seal was a wellplotted, beautifully written novel set in istanbul in the last days of the ottoman empire. Rich in sensuous detail, this first novel brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning ottoman empire. For mothers day, here is my favourite picture of mama. The sultans seal, by jenny white im a history buff, which is one of the reasons i enjoy jenny white s novels. White paints a remarkably vivid portrait of life in 19th century turkey, from the luxurious sultan s palaces to the most squalid slums of istanbul, and writes intelligently of the political turmoil of the period. The book of the sultans seal industry news translation journal. The book of the sultan s seal strange incidents from history. The naked body of a young englishwoman washes up in istanbul wearing a pendant inscribed with the seal of the deposed sultan. Rich in sensuous detail, this first novel brilliantly captures the political and.
Strange incidents from history in the city of mars. A stunningly lyrical debut novel about faith and desire, set within a gripping tale of murder in nineteenthcentury istanbul. Review the book of the sultans seal, youssef rakha book of the. Site include bibliography and brief author biography. In fact, they might just tempt you into skipping the slopes entirely. Feb 28, 2007 the sultan s seal was a wellplotted, beautifully written novel set in istanbul in the last days of the ottoman empire. Strange incidents from history in the city of mars is one helluva read. He decided to marry her to acquire her shares in her father s company. Unfolding in an exotic world of djinns, tube flowers, and belladonna, two mysterious crimes collide in a startling resolution. The first edition of the novel was published in february th 2006, and was written by jenny white. Together these create a portrait of cairo, city of post911 islam.
Books on the left under the balance are a quran and a law book, symbolizing the islamic state. The sultans seal rich in sensuous detail, this debut novel brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning ottoman empire. The sultan s seal was a wellplotted, beautifully written novel set in istanbul in the last days of the ottoman empire. Listen free to sultans seal by jenny white with a free trial. Feb, 2006 rich in sensuous detail, this first novel brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning ottoman empire. The sultan s virgin bride this starts out as a revenge type. The sultans seal, by jenny white turkey travel planner. Review the book of the sultans seal, youssef rakha book. With an assortment of characters straight out of the pages of scheherazade, the sultans seal brims with powerful men, sly servants, eunuchs, the manipulations of the sultans harem and a young woman who suffers the rejection of society after a brutal attack that ruins her hope for marriage. Buy a cheap copy of the sultan s seal book by jenny white. Iain pears rich in sensuous detail, this first novel brilliantly captures the political and social. In a series of visions, corbaci encounters the spirit of the last ottoman sultan and embarks on a mission the sultan assigns him. I think one might be inclined to discount this book as yet another romantic.
He is hampered both by being unable to operate within the pslace and by his own internal. The main characters of this mystery, historical story are kamil pasha. Jenny white, an anthropologist and the author of numerous nonfiction works on turkish society and politics, has written a real winner with her debut novel, the sultan s seal. Mona anis, alahram weekly a great novel, the ultimate in eloquence. Bennetts novel plays with its characters nagging feelings of being incompletefor the twins without each other. Around her neck is a pendant that contains the tughra, the sultan s seal a signature that is only found on special possessions of the imperial household. The turkish was mispronounced and the accents sounded more like they were from india rather than turkey. The sultans seal february 12, 2007 edition open library. Youssef rakhas kitab altughra book of the sultan s seal, his first novel, set in the spring of 2007 and completed at the start of 2010, was published less than a fortnight after mass protests centred on cairos tahrir square had forced the resignation of the then egyptian president hosni mubarak on 11 february 2011 a move that prompted the transfer of power to the supreme council of. Review the book of the sultans seal, youssef rakha. Strange incidents from history in the city of mars by youssef rakha, trs. It is the year rumi year 2 or 1886 by the christian calendar. The book of the sultans seal established in 1987, interlink is an independent publishing house that offers a global, cosmopolitan perspective. The naked body of an englishwoman washes up in istanbul wearing a pendant inscribed with the seal of the deposed sultan.
Whites prose glints like the shores of the bosphorus she brings to life with breathtaking detail. Very elaborate decorated versions were created for important documents that were also works of art in the tradition of ottoman. Strange incidents from history in the city of mars youssef rakha, trans. Jan 01, 2006 the naked body of a young englishwoman washes up in istanbul wearing a pendant inscribed with the seal of the deposed sultan.
Sultans and crocodiles reorient middle eastern arts. For academic interest in the book of the sultan s seal, see paul starkeys chapter in studying modern arabic literature, benjamin koerbers paper in the journal of arabic literature, and anton shammass remark on the english publishers website. The book was published in multiple languages including, consists of 368 pages and is available in ebook format. Unfortunately, the narration left a lot to be desired. The sultans seal by jenny white 2007, trade paperback for. The sultans seal by jenny white i always seem to find myself reading the first book in a series because a book farther along in the series looks. I dont have the launch dates yet, but the manuscripts are at the editing stage. The sultans seal fort bend county libraries overdrive.
The book of the sultan s seal is both a suspenseful, erotic, riotous novel and an urgent, unparalleled. Strange incidents from history in the city of mars by youssef rakha 2014, trade paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Corbacis trials shed light on the contemporary arab muslims desperation for a sense of identity. It would have been better if it had sounded more authentic.
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