Lycian Turkey: Book Suggestions

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 cultural tour. The books are in no particular recommended order. This list of books is not required reading!

UK visitors interested in purchasing these books may click on the main title. US visitors wishing to buy, please click on ‘In USA’

Ancient Lycia

Lycian Turkey IN USA George E Bean - Covering the Lycian coast as far as Antalya, Bean is the definitive archaeological guide to the region.

Turkey’s Southern Shore IN USA George E Bean - As above, but covering the sites we will be visiting from Antalya.

The Lycian Shore IN USA Freya Stark - typical Stark and a window onto the area before the 50’s.

Alexander’s Path: from Caria to Cilicia IN USA Freya Stark - a look at the area in the 50’s in the footsteps of Alexander.

Xanthus: Travels of Discovery in Turkey IN USA Enid Slatter - covers the archaeological ‘discovery’ of Lycia, a little dry.

The Cities of Pamphylia IN USA John D Grainger - a thorough investigation of the history of Pamphylia.

Byzantium / Constantinople / Istanbul

The Blue Guide: Istanbul is the best guidebook to Istanbul, and is filled with concise information about all the visible historical monuments of every period.

Constantinople: City of the World’s Desire 1453-1924 IN USA Philip Mansel - is a colourful, informative and truly great read.

A Hedonist’s guide to...Istanbul IN USA Nick Hackworth - a fanstastic insider’s guide for sophisticated travellers.

Istanbul: the Imperial City IN USA John Freely - is a fascinating broad-brush biography of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City IN USA John Freely and Hilary Sumner-Boyd - is an excellent read.

Istanbul: The Collected Traveller An Inspired Companion Guide IN USA Barrie Kerper - A unique guide combining fascinating articles from a wide range of writers, woven together with the editor’s own brilliant advice and opinions.

Ancient Turkey

A Traveller’s History of Turkey IN USA Richard Stoneman - is a good overview of Turkish history from prehistoric times to the present day.

Ancient Turkey: A Traveller’s History IN USA Seton Lloyd - is a classic account of Turkish history from Prehistory to Christianity.

Kingdoms of Ruin: The Art and Architectural Splendours of Ancient Turkey IN USA Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch - is a gorgeous photographic record of the landscapes and ancient sites of Turkey.

Ancient History

Greek History IN USA Robin Osborne - is the best short introduction to the history of Ancient Greece.

History of Rome IN USA Marcel Le Glay, Jean-Louis Voisin, Yann Le Bohec, David Cherry, Donald G. Kyle (4th edition) - It’s difficult to write a single authoritative book covering such a long period and geographical range, but the authors have done a great job with this.

Constructing the Ancient World: Architectural Techniques of the Greeks and Romans IN USA Carmelo Malacrino - is a good introduction to the engineering skills and prowess that we will be marvelling at on this tour.

Byzantine History

A Concise History of Byzantium 285-1461 IN USA Warren Treadgold - is an accessible and concise introduction to the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantium: the Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire IN USA Judith Herrin - is a good thematic introduction to the Byzantine world.

Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture IN USA Richard Krautheimer - is a decent guide to this subject.

Byzantine Art IN USA Robin Cormack - a descriptive and analytical discourse on this complex and interesting subject.

Ottoman History

Osman’s Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire IN USA Caroline Finkel - is a clear historical account by a distinguished Ottoman scholar and Istanbul resident.

Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire (new edition 2008) IN USA Jason Goodwin - is a beautifully written book that attempts to go beyond traditional history to provide an insight into the culture and atmosphere of the Ottoman world.

Modern History and General Turkey Books

Sons of the Conquerors: the Rise of the Turkic World IN USA Hugh Pope - covers all corners of the modern Turkish world with verve and style.

Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds IN USA Stephen Kinzer - is a fascinating look at Turkey now and tomorrow.

Ataturk IN USA Andrew Mango - is the best biography of the founder of the Turkish state that is currently in print.

Sultan’s Kitchen: A Turkish Cookbook IN USA Özcan Ozan - is a sumptuous illustrated introduction to Turkish recipes.

Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey IN USA Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Gökmen - is a riveting look at life in modern Turkey from the perspective of expatriate women.

A Fez of the heart: Travels through Turkey in Search of a Hat IN USA Jeremy Seal - is a witty portrait of modern Turkey.

Turkey Guidebooks

Turkey Lonely Planet 2009 IN USA

The Rough Guide to Turkey 2010 IN USA

Turkey (Eyewitness Travel Guides) 2010 IN USA

Frommer’s Turkey 2010 IN USA

Turkey Novels and Literature

Memed, My Hawk IN USA Yashar Kemal - a wonderful novel by one of Turkey’s finest writers.

Orhan Pamuk is currently the most celebrated Turkish novelist, and his prose offers an intense and somewhat dark perspective on Turkey, its people and their history. Why not try one of his recent ‘classics’ such as My Name is Red IN USA or The Black Book IN USA

Birds without Wings IN USA Louis de Bernieres - is a dramatization of events in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire in a village, Kayakoy, which we pass on our Lycian tours.

There are a variety of maps of Turkey at different scales, but for the most detailed map of the region and a general introduction to the area (though most of the book is a walking guide), look out for The Lycian Way IN USA by Kate Clow.

Find out about all our gulet cruises.