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mauvenotebook's review against another edition
Good book, but I had to DNF around the end of the second section because the Fall of Constantinople was too upsetting.
archytas's review against another edition
informative
2.5
This came highly recommended as a history of the city, but it was more of a history of people who ruled the city, which became dull quite quickly. The appendix which connects the chapters to existing (in the 1990s) monuments indicate its main intent as a walking guide with lots of background.
nick_lehotsky's review against another edition
4.0
Will be returning to this one again—excellent meandering of architecture through history. A fine introduction to this city: relished the tone and cadence of Freely’s writing, and the well-structured appendices!
Some pacing issues, and subjects deserving elaboration are glossed over or unmentioned.
Some pacing issues, and subjects deserving elaboration are glossed over or unmentioned.
cplanas's review against another edition
3.0
The extravagance, cruelty, glory and occasionally foolishness of the Byzantine emperors and the Ottomans sultans are infinites sources of delight for any reader. This is the main topic of [a:John Freely|92632|John Freely|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224301676p2/92632.jpg]'s book, and the appealing subject is correctly transmited, even if in the last chapters the succession of sultans can get too mechanical and boring. This last flaw is in part saved by the many quotes that the author introduces in the book, which are surprisingly interesting, specially the ones by the great Turkish traveler Evliya. However, the book is supposed to talk about the city and not about the two empires which used it as their capital and unfortunately, when the author tries to share his obvious fascination for Istanbul, he fails, tangled by a bit of pedantry and a bit of exaggerated nostalgy.
Anyway, it's a worthy and easily readable book.
Anyway, it's a worthy and easily readable book.
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