A classic, wonderfully written history of the fall of Constantinople in 1493 and its consequences. Runciman, a noted British scholar, draws on many sources, both Greek and Muslim, in tracing this fateful time in the history of the city. Originally published in 1965, the book does a masterful job of explaining not only the events of May 1453 but also their wide-ranging ramifications. With an appendix on the churches of Constantinople after the conquest. Read this book for insight into Byzantine and Ottoman influences in the city.  (TKY76, $19.99)