Ionian Turkey: Suggested Books
Here are some suggestions for books, biographies, and travel guides should you wish to read up on Turkey, Turkish history, and the region’s archaeology, before your historical holiday, cultural tour, or gulet cruise. There’s a section specific to this region along with books on the Ottomans and Istanbul. The books are in no particular recommended order.
During your gulet cruise along the coast of Ionia and Caria, your guide will have a number of these books on board that will be available for general consumption. This list of books is not required reading!
UK visitors interested in purchasing these books, may click on the main title or picture links.
US visitors wishing to buy, please click on ‘In USA’
Ionia/Caria
Aegean Turkey IN USA George E Bean - Bean is the definitive archaeological guide to the region, but is very dry. 1966
Turkey Beyond the Maeander IN USA George E Bean - as above. 1971
Ionia: A quest IN USA Freya Stark - typical Stark & a window onto the area before the 60’s. 1954
The Western Shores of Turkey IN USA John Freely - authoritative & informative guide, following in Bean’s footsteps. 2004
South from Ephesus: an escape from the tyranny of Western Art IN USA Brian Sewell - classic, self-indulgent travelogue. 1988
Ancient Turkey/history general
The Blue Guide Turkey IN USA Bernard McDonagh - the most comprehensive & detailed guide to all its historic sites. 2001
Traveller’s History of Turkey IN USA Richard Stoneman. Anthology of travellers’ accounts. 1993
Classical Anatolia: The Glory of Hellenism IN USA Harry Brewster. 1993
Ancient Turkey: A Traveller’s History of Anatolia IN USA Seton Lloyd, University of California Press. 1989
Greek & Roman Architecture IN USA RA Tomlinson - a pretty good intro. 1995
Ottoman history
Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire IN USA Jason Goodwin Highly readable overview. 1998
The Ottomans IN USA Andrew Wheatcroft. 1996
The Ottoman Centuries IN USA Lord Kinross. 1979
The Ottoman Turks: An Introductory History to 1923 IN USA Justin McCarthy. 1997
Constantinople/Istanbul
Constantinople: City of the World’s Desire, 1453-1924 IN USA Philip Mansel - a colourful, informative, & truly great read. 1995
Istanbul the Imperial City IN USA John Freely - fascinating biography of one of the world’s greatest cities. 1998
Strolling through Istanbul IN USA John Freely - classic guide book for walking around the city. 1987
Turkey general
Tales from the expat harem IN USA Anastasia Ashman, Jennifer Gokmen 2006
Sons of the Conquerors: the rise of the Turkic world IN USA Hugh Pope 2005
Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds IN USA Stephen Kinzer - fascinating look at Turkey now and tomorrow. 2001
Turkish Delights IN USA Philippa Scott - captures its romance and magic, from turbans & tulips, to harems & hamams. 2001
Ataturk - The Rebirth of a Nation IN USA Lord Kinross - the classic biography of Turkey’s founding father. 1964
Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey IN USA Andrew Mango - latest excellent bio. 2001
The Turks Today IN USA Andrew Mango. 2004
A Fez of the Heart: Travels around Turkey in search of a hat IN USA Jeremy Seal - witty portrait of modern Turkey. 1995
Turkish Reflections: A biography of a place IN USA Mary Lee Settle. 1992
Journey to Kars: a Modern Traveller in the Ottoman Lands Philip Glazebrook. 1984
On horseback through Asia Minor IN USA Captain Fred Burnaby. 1877
Within the Taurus: A Journey in Asiatic Turkey IN USA Lord Kinross. 1955
The Innocents Abroad IN USA Mark Twain - Twain’s classic account of his travels around the Mediterranean. 1869
Dinner of Herbs IN USA Carla Grissmann - portrait of an isolated hamlet in central Anatolia. 2001
Portrait of a Turkish Family IN USA Irfan Orga. 1950
The Turkish people IN USA Lucy M. Garnett. 2004
World Food: Turkey IN USA Lonely Planet - a great little guide to Turkey’s taste sensations. 2000
Eat Smart in Turkey IN USA Joan and David Peterson. 1999
Turkey guide books
Turkey (Eyewitness travel guides) IN USA Suzanne Swan 2008
Turkey: Lonely Planet IN USA Verity Campbell 2007
The Rough Guide to Turkey IN USA Rosie Ayliffe 2007
Turkish Odyssey: A Cultural Guide to Turkey IN USA Serif Yenen 2003
Frommer’s Turkey IN USA Lynn Levine 2008
Novels
Memed, My Hawk IN USA Yashar Kemal - a wonderful novel by one of Turkey’s finest writers. 1961
Birds without wings IN USA Louis de Bernieres - story of a village, Kayakoy, in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. 2004
The most celebrated novelist in Turkey at the moment is Orhan Pamuk - you might like to consider one his recent ‘classics’ such as My Name is Red IN USA or The Black Book IN USA
