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skitch41 's review for:
Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul
by Charles King
Like the other former capital of the Roman Empire, Rome, Istanbul is a city where history can be found on every street you walk. It sits astride the Golden Horn, the geographic gateway between Europe and Asia, the West and the East, and its history reflects this dichotomy. Yet trying to relate that history can be a rather byzantine task (pardon the pun). However, Mr. King does an excellent job of making Istanbul, and its place in modern history, come alive in this wonderful book. Starting with the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and focusing particularly on the northern side of the city, the Pera district, and one hotel in particular located there, the Pera Palace, Mr. King weaves a wonderful tale of the many people who wandered through Istanbul either as new immigrants or exiles on the road to new opportunities. However, Mr. King does not restrict himself solely to Istanbul, but rather puts the city in its historical context as it details the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Turkey, the large groups of White Russians escaping from the Russian Revolution, the Greek Orthodox, Armenians, and Jews who were pushed out of Turkey by the Kemalist breakneck push towards modernity, and the numerous spies, diplomats, and celebrities that passed through the Pera Palace's doors. As Turkey grapples with modernity, Mr. King reveals the opportunities and perils that were present for people during this time with wonderful detail and great narrative flair. In this one book, Mr. King justifies Istanbul's unofficial title as one of the crossroads of civilization. There was hardly a dull moment in this book. However, the title location, the Pera Palace, was not nearly as prominent in Mr. King's narrative as the book description led me to believe. Still, that is a small gripe against this otherwise fascinating read. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Istanbul, Turkey, or the Interwar period.