A review by theomnivorescientist
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin

adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Need a brush up on your Ottoman Empire history with a nice bloody whodunnit wrapped around it through a wholly original protagonist? Welcome to Istanbul, 1836. The elite troops called the Janissaries have been disbanded ten years ago by Sultan Mahmud but a string of barbaric murders brings Yashim Togalu, the eunuch courtier, in dangerous proximity to the fear of the rise of the Janissaries and dismantle Istanbul's peace and stability. Goodwin's experience as a historian is in full bloom as he evokes the 19th century Constantinople, the city which is home to such rich histories it almost sighs with the pressure of its own stories. Vacillating between the old ways and the modernization of Europe, Istanbul here is a live experiment in history in this book. Rather than the picturesque views of the Grand Bazaar, the author weaves his tale from the viewpoints of various residents of the city and the fluid demographics. Greeks and Circassians and Russians all have their own microcosm in this place. A must-read for multicultural and history buffs.