Abyssinian Proof  •  Jenny White LITERATURE •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 384 PAGES In this sequel to The Sultan's Seal (TKY137), magistrate Kamil Pasha confronts smugglers and religious conflicts in Ottoman Istanbul. (TKY155, $23.95)
Ancient Greece, A Concise History  •  Peter Green HISTORY •  1979 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • COMING IN A lively, illustrated history of Greece from the Stone Age to the death of Alexander the Great in under 200 pages. With good maps, a bibliography for further reading and hundreds of black-and-white photos of sites and objects. (GRE04, $18.95)
The Argonautika, The Story of Jason and the Quest for the Golden Fleece  •  Apollonius of Rhodes  •  Peter Green LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER The story, in verse, by Apollonius of Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece, here retold. A noted classicist, Peter Green retranslates the original into readable modern verse. With a helpful glossary and maps that show the route of the journey. (GRE92, $24.95)
Ataturk, The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey  •  Andrew Mango BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  PAPER  • 666 PAGES Mango (who was born in Istanbul and has written extensively on modern Turkey) expertly traces Ataturk's rise to power after World War I, when this complex leader created the modern Turkish state and redefined the relationship between Europe and the Middle East. He shows Ataturk's influence on the role of Islam in the modern nation. (TKY52, $24.95)
Birds Without Wings  •  Louis De Bernieres LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 480 PAGES Louis De Bernieres offers sweeping historical scope, memorable characters, drama, and many new vocabulary words in this stupendous novel set in Anatolia during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. He interweaves a tale of family with the history of the rise of Ataturk, much about the decline of religious tolerance -- and a dazzling centerpiece in which a young townsman fights his way across Gallipoli. It's a big book, ambitious, generous and satisfying. (TKY91, $15.95)
Black Sea  •  Neal Ascherson CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1996 •  PAPER  • 306 PAGES A vivid and entertaining exploration of the Black Sea, with its unique mingling of cultures. Ascherson skillfully interweaves nature, politics, and culture as he describes both the history of the region and the current state of affairs. (RUS46, $18.00)
The Black Sea, A History  •  Charles King HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 296 PAGES This brisk narrative history takes in the history, culture and politics of the region from 700 B.C. to the 1990s. King argues that, like the Mediterranean, the Black Sea unites diverse languages and cultures (Greek, Roman, Armenian, Persian, Scythian, Byzantine, Ottoman, Tatar and Mongol). The book opens with a chapter on Pontus Euxinus, an ancient Greek site along the shores of the Black Sea. Charles King is a professor in the Department of Government and School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. With four maps and 15 black-and-white photographs. (EUR173, $35.00)
The Byzantines  •  Guglielmo Cavallo  •  Thomas Dunlap HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 294 PAGES A collection of essays from scholars worldwide focusing on the people of the Byzantine empire. (TKY66, $26.00)
Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests  •  Walter Kaegi HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 313 PAGES A classic history, painstakingly researched and utterly absorbing, of the seventh-century conqest of the eastern roman world. Insights on the great campaigns, political alliances and economics of the empire are accompanied by copious charts, maps, graphs and back-and-white illustrations. This book explores the evolution of the 1100-year-old Constantinople into the powerful capital of the Ottoman sultans, an essential reference to the Medieval east including Syria, Armenia and Palestine. (TKY19, $45.00)
Byzantium, A History  •  John Haldon HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 176 PAGES A short, academic history of the Byzantine empire, ideal for those seeking an informed and brief overview. (TKY78, $32.50)
Byzantium, The Apogee  •  John Julius Norwich HISTORY •  1992 •  HARD COVER Part Two in Norwich's three part history of the Byzantine Empire, this thoroughly researched and surprisingly entertaining volume covers the period from 800 AD to 1000 AD, telling of the empire at its most powerful -- and most cruel. With 32 pages of photographs. (TKY70, $49.95)
Celebrating Homer's Landscapes, Troy and Ithaca Revisited  •  John Victor Luce ARCHAEOLOGY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES A study of Aegean landscapes with reference to the geography of the great poet's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." The author recreated the voyage of Odysseus, illustrating Troy, Ithaca and other sites with gorgeous color photographs. (GRE80, $50.00)
The Colossus of Maroussi  •  Henry Miller TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1958 •  PAPER  • 249 PAGES • FAVORITE The soul of Greece circa 1939. Miller captures the spirit and warmth of the resilient Greek people in this tale of a wartime journey from Athens to Crete, Corfu and Delphi with his friend Lawrence Durrell. Miller at his most inspired. (GRE05, $14.95)
Companion Guide Istanbul  •  John Freely GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 428 PAGES A remarkably comprehensive, old-fashioned guide to the culture, art and antiquities of Istanbul and the Marmara by a long-time resident with sites plans, maps and a few black-and-white photographs. (TKY62, $34.95)
A Concise History of Byzanitum  •  Warren T. Treadgold HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A quick, readable survey of the Byzantine Empire, focusing on the spread of cultural and religious ideas. (TKY69, $29.95)
Culture Smart! Turkey  •  Charlotte McPherson GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (TKY127, $9.95)
Eyewitness Guide Greek Islands  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES This guide features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and an island-by-island synopsis of attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this compact book provides an essential overview of the Greek Islands (with a chapter on Athens and a section on practicalities). (GRE37, $25.00)
A Fez of the Heart, Travels around Turkey in Search of a Hat  •  Jeremy Seal TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES This engaging author didn't really focus his Turkish travels entirely on a felt hat! It's an excuse to comment on modern Turkey and the dramatic changes since the rise of Kemil Ataturk (who banned the Fez in 1925). The book deftly combines reporting, history, politics and the old-fashioned travelogue. (TKY16, $16.00)
Fragments of Culture, The Everyday of Modern Turkey  •  Deniz Kandiyoti HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES A loosely organized collection of scholarly articles addressing everyday life, ranging from issues of gender and class, to shopping malls, film, education, and folk dancing. (TKY97, $25.00)
God Lives in St. Petersburg, and Other Stories  •  Tom Bissell LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 212 PAGES Bissell (Chasing the Sea) returns to his years in Central Asia as a Peace Corps volunteer in these sharp, witty fictionalized accounts. His six fast-paced tales are set in Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and the Aral Sea. (CAS117, $13.95)
The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral  •  Robert A. Scott ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 307 PAGES Scott, whose interest in the history of cathedrals began when he first saw the magnificent Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salisbury, England, takes his reader on a historical, architectural and sociological tour of the magnificent spires and stained-glass windows that dot the landscape of Europe. It's an accessible, personable overview. (EUR190, $17.95)
Greece and Western Turkey Map  •  Hallwag MAP A detailed map of Greece, includes Western Turkey, imported from Switzerland, on a scale of 1:700,000. (GRE39, $12.95)
Greece Map  •  World Mapping Project 2003 •  MAP A colorful shaded map of Greece, the Greek Islands, and the west coast of Turkey, at a scale of 1:650,000. Printed on both sides for ease of use, the full color map features good shaded relief, roads and index. If you want the region on one sheet, you might want to consider the Michelin map of Greece, which also includes Istanbul and more of the Turkish coast (along with better shaded relief). Using the latest cartography from the World Mapping Project, the map is printed on rip-proof and waterproof paper. Water depths are indicated by contour lines in shades of blue and white. (GRE24, $9.99)
Greek Art  •  John Boardman ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A standard brief survey of classical Greek art and architecture, revised to reflect recent archaeology, this book presents hundreds of paintings, frescoes and other objects from antiquity, each in its spiritual and cultural context. A volume in the "World of Art" series. With 300 illustrations, 73 in color. (GRE12, $21.95)
Greek Art  •  Nigel Spivey ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES Geared towards art history students, this concise survey of Greek art is also an excellent overview of the subject for the traveler. Divided thematically, it covers major artists, myths and plays in addition to temple sculpture and architecture. With 200 photographs and mostly color illustrations. A volume in the Art & Ideas series. (GRE68, $24.95)
Here Is Where We Meet  •  John Berger LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. "The dead don't stay where they are buried," the protagonist's mother tells him, and this becomes the mantra for this most unusual journey through Europe's history and people. (EUR189, $14.00)
The Histories  •  Herodotus HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 656 PAGES In what may be the first travel book, Herodotus records the heroic struggle between Europe and Asia that culminated in the invasion of Greece by Xerxes. (MED15, $10.00)
In Search of the Trojan War  •  Michael Wood ARCHAEOLOGY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This handsomely illustrated book examines the archaeology, history and legends of Troy -- a vivid analysis of the ancient world by the peripatetic anthropologist and documentary filmmaker Michael Wood. With the remarkable Heinrich Schliemann (who discovered Troy in 1873) as his point of departure, Wood takes the reader along on a remarkable story of archaeological adventure. (GRE52, $22.95)
In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great  •  Michael Wood HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Historian Michael Wood recreates the epic journey of Alexander the Great across Asia in this companion volume to the documentary television series. With a good selection of maps, photographs and illustrations of Hellenic art and artifacts from the region. (MED23, $21.95)
Insight Guide Mediterranean Cruises  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 300 PAGES Covering 120 ports of call throughout the Mediterranean from the Canary Islands to Egypt. (MED94, $22.95)
Insight Guide Turkey  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 439 PAGES An outstanding overview of the country from the reliable Insight crew, featuring hundreds of photographs and observant essays on history, culture and nature. With separate chapters on Istanbul, Ephesus, the Aegean Coast, Lycia, and Cappadocia. (TKY38, $22.95)
Islam, The Straight Path  •  John L. Esposito RELIGION •  2004 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES A well-written survey of the faith, practice and beliefs of Islam. It's a balanced tome intended for an undergraduate audience, yet it also functions as an excellent overview for the general reader. (MDE22, $39.95)
Islamic Art and Architecture  •  Robert Hillenbrand ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Covering one thousand years and the geographic scope of Islam, this book is a wide-ranging guide to the arts of Islam, including architecture, calligraphy, ceramics, and textiles. A marvelously compact synthesis, it focuses on major styles associated with Muslim dynasties including the Ottomans. With a useful glossary of Islamic terms, time line, maps and 270 illustrations, many in color. (CAS17, $18.95)
Islamic Arts  •  Jonathan Bloom  •  Sheila Blair ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 445 PAGES A comprehensive survey of 1,000 years of Islamic architecture, design and decoration. Illustrated throughout with color photographs, maps and site plans. For anyone with an interest in art, this book is a wonderfully illuminating, stimulating introduction to the subject. (ISL01, $24.95)
Islamist Mobilization in Turkey, A Study in Vernacular Politics  •  Jenny White RELIGION •  2003 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A social history and ethnography of contemporary Istanbul based on interviews and field work in the Umraniye neighborhood. Jenny B. White is associate professor of anthropology at Boston University. (TKY98, $22.50)
Istanbul, the Imperial City  •  John Freely HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A lively, anecdotal history of the city geared for the traveler. With historic and modern photographs and neighborhood maps. Freely concludes with a helpful, 60-page section on monuments and museums. (TKY23, $17.00)
Julian, A Novel  •  Gore Vidal LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 503 PAGES A historical novel on the last pagan Roman emperor Julian the Apostate, the fascinating 4th century scholar who became a great soldier and determined the future of the entire Roman Empire. (TKY128, $16.00)
The King Must Die  •  Mary Renault LITERATURE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES The tale of Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur and king of Athens, including his Cretan adventures. Known for her exhaustive research, Renault is an acknowledged master of historical fiction. (GRE23, $14.95)
Leo Africanus  •  Amin Maalouf LITERATURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES A fictional memoir documenting the first 40 years in the life of Leo Africanus (or Leo the African), a Muslim scholar whose travels lead him throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. Based on a real-life figure, Leo is witness to many of the revolutionary changes and figures in the Western world of the period. (MED55, $16.95)
Living in Istanbul  •  Jerome Darblay ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES A coffee-table book of color photographs, showcasing the landscapes, architecture and interiors of the Turkish city. (TKY79, $50.00)
The Making of Modern Turkey  •  Feroz Ahmad HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES A study of the politics, economy, military developments and society of Turkey, from 1908 through the 1990s. A volume in the textbook series "The Making of the Modern Middle East." Ahmad was a student of the Islamic scholar Bernard Lewis (The Emergence of Modern Turkey). (TKY123, $48.95)
Mediterranean Sea Cruises Map  •  Freytag & Berndt 2008 •  MAP A double-sided, full-color map of the Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula and Black Sea, North Africa and the Levant, at a scale of 1:2,000,000. (MED36, $12.95)
Memed, My Hawk  •  Yasar Kemal LITERATURE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES The deceptively simple tale of a rebellious boy in the Taurus mountains of Southern Turkey in the 1930's by a master storyteller -- and one of Turkey's best known contemporary writers. Kemal dramatizes the struggle of the villagers against the tyranny of local landowners. Fiftieth Anniversary edition with a new introduction by the author. (TKY57, $15.95)
The Middle Sea, A History of the Mediterranean  •  John Julius Norwich HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 720 PAGES • NEW A marvelous writer who has already tackled Byzantium, the Normans in Sicily and Venice, Norwich spins his magic in this story of culture, trade and politics, royalty and rulers, wars and religion in the Mediterranean from antiquity to the end of the First World War. (MED98, $20.00)
The Odyssey  •  Homer  •  Robert Fagles LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 541 PAGES Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. (GRE45, $16.00)
Odyssey of Homer  •  Robert Fagles LITERATURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 560 PAGES Translator Robert Fagles captures the poetry and power of The Odyssey in this new translation, celebrated for its clarity and expressiveness. We also carry the Fagles translation of The Iliad. (GRE30, $35.00)
The Olive, Tree of Civilization  •  John Train  •  Mark E. Smith HISTORY •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A history of the celebrated vegetable and the mythology behind it. (NAT72, $25.00)
On the Shores of the Mediterranean  •  Eric Newby TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 486 PAGES A sparkling observer and famously entertaining writer, Newby tackles the Mediterranean in these merry essays. He finds himself in North Africa, the Adriatic, Venice, Naples, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Cairo and Jerusalem. (MED25, $14.95)
Osman's Dream, The History of the Ottoman Empire  •  Caroline Finkel HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 688 PAGES An ambitious, scholarly history of an 600-year empire that, at its height, stretched from Central Asia to the Levant, Danube and North Africa. A long-time resident of Turkey with a doctorate in Ottoman Studies, Finkel draws on Turkish sources to paint a nuanced portrait of a multi-ethnic, geographically diverse, strained dominion, an empire like that of that he Holy Roman Empire and Hapsburgs. (EUR200, $18.95)
Ottoman Turkey, Islamic Architecture  •  Godfrey Goodwin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1977 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES An extended photo-essay on Islamic architecture focusing on the magnificent buildings constructed during the Ottoman period in Turkey. (TKY31, $20.00)
The Ottoman Turks: An Introductory History to 1923  •  Justin McCarthy HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 406 PAGES Written by a historian who has a way with words, this book is a vivid overview of the history, customs and traditions of Ottoman Turkey for the curious general reader. It covers not only the history of the Ottoman Empire but also society, environment and everyday life. With many helpful maps and illustrations. (TKY36, $62.40)
Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates  •  Paul Dallman NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES Richly illustrated, clearly written and engaging, this book is an ecological overview of the landscapes, plants and vegetation types found in Mediterranean climates. It's an eye-opening guide to California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and -- naturally -- the Mediterranean. (MED21, $35.95)
The Private World of Ottoman Women  •  Godfrey Goodwin CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 263 PAGES For those particularly interested in the role of women in the Ottoman empire, this far-ranging book explores the world of women from all levels of society during six centuries of rule, including harem life, court ceremony, travel and domestic affairs. (TKY34, $24.95)
The Rise of Christianity  •  Rodney Stark RELIGION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES The subtitle to this book says it all: "How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries." More a sociological study than a religious history, the book delves into what compelled so many people to convert to the then infant religion. (MED64, $14.95)
Sailing From Byzantium, How A Lost Empire Shaped The World  •  Colin Wells HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES A history of the Byzantine empire and its cultural, artistic, religious, philosophical, and scientifc legacy. (TKY130, $14.00)
Secret History  •  G. A. Williamson  •  Procopius HISTORY •  1982 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES A classic and compulsively readable account of the mores and manners of elite society at the court of Emperor Justinian. This is historical mudslinging only a Byzantine could devise, a withering expose of the scandals, intrigues and infidelities of the splendid empire and its rulers by none other than its official historian. This guy had a major ax to grind, which translator G.A. Williamson considers in the long introduction to the author and book. (TKY11, $14.00)
The Spirit of Mediterranean Places  •  Michel Butor TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1986 •  PAPER  • 147 PAGES • FAVORITE In this remarkable short book, the celebrated French novelist chronicles his travels to Mallia in Crete, Delphi, Salonica, Ferrara and Mantua in Northern Italy, Cordova, Istanbul and Egypt, where Butor spent a year as a young man. It's an absorbing, wonderfully appreciative account of the region, a favorite of ours. (MED03, $13.95)
Time Out Istanbul  •  Andrew Humphreys GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Compact and up-to-date, this guide for where to go and what to do in Istanbul includes maps and introductory chapters on culture and history. (TKY109, $19.95)
Travelers' Tales, A Woman's Europe  •  Marybeth Bond  •  Mary Morris ANTHOLOGY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 298 PAGES This entertaining collection depicts Europe through the eyes of a diverse group of women writers, including Frances Mayes, Jan Morris and Mary Morris. These humorous and well-written true stories capture the misadventures, discoveries and slices of life that the continent (and travel!) has to offer. (EUR160, $17.95)
The Treasures and Pleasures of Turkey  •  Ron Krannich GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A guide to traveling and shopping in Turkey. With an introductory chapter on shopping treasures and rules for Success, along with what to look for throughout the country. Istanbul gets its own chapter. The focus is on artisans, craftspeople, and shopkeepers. (TKY96, $16.95)
Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey  •  Hugh Pope HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 395 PAGES Written by a husband and wife team based in Istanbul, this engaging popular history focuses on the many paradoxes of Turkey since World War I. It's an opinionated, revealing portrait of the nation by two knowledgeable journalists. (TKY33, $22.95)
Turkey, A Modern History  •  Erik Zurcher HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 245 PAGES A lively historical account of the Turkish state from 1780 to the establishment of the modern Turkish Republic in 1923. Special attention is given to the "Young Turk" movement and Kemil Ataturk in this comprehensive volume. It's the best single guide to the complex history of modern Turkey, well written and opinionated. Revised. (TKY10, $32.00)
Turkish, A Rough Guide Phrasebook  •  Rough Guide LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2006 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES An A-Z pocket dictionary, phrasebook and mini-guide to the Turkish language. (TKY61, $6.99)
The Turks Today  •  Andrew Mango HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 292 PAGES A concise history of Turkey since the death of Ataturk in 1938. In part II, Mango (the author of a biography of Ataturk) considers modern Turkey, its society, economy, politics and prospects. (TKY90, $17.95)
The Voyage of Argo  •  Apollonius of Rhodes  •  Emil V. Rieu LITERATURE •  1977 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES The story of the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Aided by a map and a glossary, Emil V. Rieu's translation of the original epic by Apollonius of Rhodes, is readable and informative. A classic in the works of Greek mythology. (GRE91, $14.00)
The White Castle, A Novel  •  Orhan Pamuk LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 161 PAGES The American debut by the Novel Prize-winning Turkish author and perhaps his most immediately accessible book. A tale of the tension between East and West set in the 17th century, it's the story of the relationship between an Ottoman astronomer and his look-alike slave, an Venetian scholar captured on the high seas. Palmuk's other novels include Snow (TKY93) and My Name is Red (TKY68). (TKY129, $12.95)
A Woman's Asia  •  Marybeth Bond ANTHOLOGY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 310 PAGES These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. Featuring selections from Jan Morris, Pamela Logan and Alison Wright. (ASA49, $17.95)
Zorba the Greek  •  Nikos Kazantzakis LITERATURE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 311 PAGES A modern classic. Set in rural Crete in the early 20th-century, this moving tale is the most accessible of Kazantzakis' novels -- and very different from the Anthony Quinn movie version. It's a tale of adventure and philosophy that captures the exuberance of the Greek people. (GRE22, $14.00)