Harem [Hardcover]

Colin Falconer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1993

Set in the 16th-century Ottoman Empire, this novel follows the fortunes of several disparate characters whose destinies gradually weave together.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340564067
• ISBN-13: 978-0340564066
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,011,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harem, October 5, 2000

By 

Hilary (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harem (Hardcover)

I first read this book on my honeymoon 6 years ago. I purchased it in the bookstore in my hotel. Much to my husband's dismay, I could not put it down! It was an absolutely fascinating tale of life in Istanbul in the Harem owned by the Sultan. By combining fiction with historical facts, Mr. Falconer weaves a tale so intriguing, it was impossible to put down. I also must commend Amazon who found this for me again after I had given my original copy to someone and never received it back. It took almost two years, but they got it for me. I was thrilled! If anyone is ever able to get a copy of this hard-to-find book, it is a must read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Speculative History, January 28, 2003

By 

"azmi21" (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harem (Hardcover)

Colin weaves a vivid tapestry of the medieval turkish world. This story is an engaging story of a female slave using her wits and charms to survive and ultimately win the right as the Sultan's consort. Her mastery of political deception is diabolocal and her revenge sweet. Her son takes the throne but it was not of the Sultan's blood - thus ensuring the fall of the Ottoman Empire. This was all Colin's speculation, but who knows the truth may not be so removed from this afterall.

Great & Wonderful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, March 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Harem (Hardcover)

well, this was the first time I read a book by falconer and belive me it was a great experience. The plot is intellegent and force you to think. But as a muslim woman I have to disagree with some of the facts that were mentioned in the book.. like the value of women in Islam and I mean here that the writer didn't do an objective research about it... coz in the book he kept saying that the woman soul is like the cats and dog, but of he read a translation of the Qura'an he will see that in it the woman is asked to be taken care of as a daughter, wife, mother and sister and she should be respected as a part -an essential one actually- in the Islamic society. And the other thing is that the writer mensioned is that in Islam you can't take a muslim into slavery which is a wrong fact .. if you take a look in the Islamic history you can see that there were a lot of muslim slaves who apperantely become kings and queens like Qotoz the great muslim sultan who lead a battle against Magholian armies.. But after all the Book is a great experience that everyone should go throug and read..