Rare Books
"Built in 1459-1465 on one of the finest sites in the world, the ḥarēm of the Sultans of Turkey in Constantinople gradually rose to be the most mysterious, dreaded and unapproachable place in existence. So jealously have its secrets been guarded during the whole period of its existence, that even after the Sultans ceased to reside there, in the middle of the 19th century, the ḥarēm still remained as unknown as before. Owing to a sequence of fortunate chances and unusual facilities, Mr. N. M. Penzer has been able to lift the veil of secrecy that has hung so long over this forbidden place and to lay bare for the first time what strange things lay hidden beneath. Not only has he inspected the whole Palace from end to end during numerous visits in two consecutive years, but he has obtained photographs of certain parts that have resulted in the making of the most complete plan ever attempted. The empty chambers are again repeopled and the strange throng of janissaries, court pages, kadins, odalisques, eunuchs, buffoons and ḥarēm slaves pass before us in a kaleidoscopic array as curious as it is interesting. The whole palace lives once more, and we see the daily life of this amazing institution--the food, the kitchens, the courts, the schools, the mosques, the Sultan's private quarters--and the ḥarēm, guarded by bands of black eunuchs--all for one man and one man alone"--dust jacket.
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