The Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II-Conqueror of Constantinople and Master of an Empire [Hardcover]

John Freely (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

A gripping biography of one of the most sensational figures in Turkish history

Sultan Mehmet II, known to his countrymen as ?the Conqueror? and to much of Europe as ?the Terror of the World,? was once Europe?s most feared and powerful ruler. Now, Turkey?s most beloved American scholar, John Freely, brings to life this charismatic hero of one of the richest histories in the world.

Mehmet was barely twenty-one when he conquered Byzantine Constantinople, which became Istanbul and the capital of his mighty empire. Mehmet reigned for thirty years, during which time his armies extended the borders of his empire halfway across Asia Minor and as far into Europe as Hungary and Italy. Three popes called for crusades against him as Christian Europe came face to face with a new Muslim empire.

Revered by the Turks and seen as a brutal tyrant by the West, Mehmet was a brilliant military leader as well as a renaissance prince. His court housed Persian and Turkish poets, Arab and Greek astronomers, and Italian scholars and artists. In the first biography of Mehmet in thirty years, John Freely vividly illuminates the man behind the myths.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mehmet II (1432–1481) ascended to the throne of the Ottoman Empire when he was only 12. In spite of his youth, he had an energetic desire to rule the kingdom, physical prowess and a precocious intellect, which made him one of the most brilliant and most feared of all medieval Muslim rulers. In this alternately tedious and fast-paced chronicle, historian Freely, of Bosphorus University in Istanbul, shows Mehmet as cunning and politically and militarily astute. Mehmet turned his back on a peace treaty he had signed with emperor Constantine XI and attacked Byzantium's capital, Constantinople, capturing the city when he was barely 21. His troops looted much of the city and Mehmet, who reportedly shed tears at the destruction of such beauty, spent much of the rest of his reign rebuilding it. By 1463, Mehmet the Conqueror ruled the former dominions of the Byzantine Empire from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. In one short chapter, Freely then rushes through roughly 450 years of history to the Ottoman Empire's end after WWI. Mehmet's colorful and dashing exploits deserve better than this colorless biography. B&w illus., 2 maps. (Oct.)
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Review

"A useful, informative survey that provides a balanced view of a seminal epoch in world history."
-Booklist

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Overlook Hardcover; 1St Edition edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590202481
• ISBN-13: 978-1590202487
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, November 29, 2010

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Gale Page - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II-Conqueror of Constantinople and Master of an Empire (Hardcover)

An easy read for a history book. Has enough background to set the stage for an overview of the man who made a major impact on civilization not just what he did. The Turks were a major player in how western and eastern Europe was shaped from 1071 (first defeat of Byzantine emperor by the Turks) to 1923 (the formation of modern Turkey) The book covers the key time period around 1453 when Constantinople was conquered. The only thing I found distracting was the effort the author spent unnecessarily in my opinion to use Turkish spelling of words author felt were exclusively Turkish. I was not interested in correct Turkish spelling or correct Turkish pronounciation.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TURKISH HISTORY TO LIFE, December 4, 2009

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Can Çömlekçi (Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II-Conqueror of Constantinople and Master of an Empire (Hardcover)

Any historical novel by John Freely is a pleasure to read. Freely, a highly respected professor at Robert College in Istanbul, moved to Turkey in the 60s and has been writing about his beloved "adopted" country ever since. Freely's most recent work, "The Grand Turk" brings Sultan Mehmet II and the Ottoman Era to life. This book is highly recommended for lovers of history in general and of Turkey in particular.

Can Çömlekçi
Istanbul Turkey

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, November 20, 2010

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Casual Reader - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II-Conqueror of Constantinople and Master of an Empire (Hardcover)

Chronicles his life of Sultan Mehmet II expanding the Ottoman empire from Constantinople to Italy to the West, far to the North and East.