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A review by glassesgirl79
Empress of the East: How a European Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire by Leslie Peirce
3.0
"Empress of the East" presents the transformation of a young girl named Roxelana who was ripped from Ukraine, sold into slavery and eventually becomes the wife of Ottoman empire Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.
The book begins with a map of the Ottoman Empire during the time the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent which was 1520-1565.What makes the story of Roxelana so historic is that she began as a slave girl and eventually became the unofficial queen of the Ottoman Empire. In addition, by marrying Roxelana, Suleyman goes against the rules of Ottoman Empire society and also proceeds to no longer have other children by any other concubines.
After the illustrated map, the book is divided into three sections: beginnings, challenges, and politics. In the beginnings section of the book, the author discusses Roxelana's background, abduction, her life as a slave, the politics of motherhood, and the relationship between Roxelana and Suleyman.
In the second section of the book titled challenges, the author discusses Roxelana's rival being the mother of Suleyman's earlier child, Roxelana coming of age, Roxelana's life in the New Palace, the two favorites, and Roxelana building a reputation.
In the third section of the book titled politics, the author discusses family matters with Suleyman during times of war, life home and abroad, showdown between Roxelana and other regarding her influence of Suleyman, her later years and the legacy Roxelana left behind after her death.
This book was well written and informative by showing not only the inner workings of the Ottoman Empire but also the role of women during the 1500's. I enjoyed this book because of the author's use of story telling with the use of illustrations. I especially found it helpful that the author provided a list of who's who and what's what as well as a pronunciation guide.
The book begins with a map of the Ottoman Empire during the time the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent which was 1520-1565.What makes the story of Roxelana so historic is that she began as a slave girl and eventually became the unofficial queen of the Ottoman Empire. In addition, by marrying Roxelana, Suleyman goes against the rules of Ottoman Empire society and also proceeds to no longer have other children by any other concubines.
After the illustrated map, the book is divided into three sections: beginnings, challenges, and politics. In the beginnings section of the book, the author discusses Roxelana's background, abduction, her life as a slave, the politics of motherhood, and the relationship between Roxelana and Suleyman.
In the second section of the book titled challenges, the author discusses Roxelana's rival being the mother of Suleyman's earlier child, Roxelana coming of age, Roxelana's life in the New Palace, the two favorites, and Roxelana building a reputation.
In the third section of the book titled politics, the author discusses family matters with Suleyman during times of war, life home and abroad, showdown between Roxelana and other regarding her influence of Suleyman, her later years and the legacy Roxelana left behind after her death.
This book was well written and informative by showing not only the inner workings of the Ottoman Empire but also the role of women during the 1500's. I enjoyed this book because of the author's use of story telling with the use of illustrations. I especially found it helpful that the author provided a list of who's who and what's what as well as a pronunciation guide.