Turkish Tapestry: A Traveller's Portrait of Turkey [Paperback]

Holly Chase (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1882443004 | ISBN-13: 978-1882443000 | Publication Date: December 1993 | Edition: Revised

Portrait of a contemporary Middle Eastern society--Muslim but not Arab or Persian. Extensive material on food, folkart,bazaars, and markets, ancient ruins,quirky personalities, ethnic groups, flora, fauna, and language will engage both old hands and first-time visitors.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Holly Chase writes and lectures on the arts, cultures, and cuisines that lie between Portugal and India. She first went to Turkey in 1971 and has worked, travelled and lived throughout the country. She has been (and continues to be) an ethnographer, culinary researcher, tour guide, and handicraft development advisor in Turkey and devolping countries throughout the world.

A specialist in Islamic material culture (esp. carpets and textiles) she has led many Turkish and Mediterranean tours for musuems and other cultural groups

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Bosphorus Books; Revised edition (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882443004
• ISBN-13: 978-1882443000
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #814,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

On tours and through her writing, lecturing, and cooking, Holly has introduced thousands of people to the delights of Turkey. She has focused on the arts and cuisines of the Muslim world, but she has also lived and worked in South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe as well as in the Middle East. Holly firmly believes that sharing food and music transcends politics to facilitate cross-cultural understanding and respect.

For Turkish recipes, photos, tour itineraries, & more details about her writing and other work, please visit her Website: http://hollychase.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Reading, March 14, 2000

By 

Fiorentina (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Turkish Tapestry: A Traveller's Portrait of Turkey (Paperback)

While preparing for a trip to Turkey several years ago I was fortunate to come across Turkish Tapestry. From the very first page I was captivated by Ms Chase's description of everyday life in Turkey. It was exciting for me to read a book that was written by a woman who had begun her travels to Turkey as a tourist but ended up living there. This book is not your typical travel log and gives the reader insight into the Turkish people and their culture. I read the book again upon my return from Turkey and found that Ms Chase captured the true essence of this wonderful country and its people. I have since given this book to all of my friends who are traveling to Turkey and they have agreed that it is a worthwhile and enjoyable book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, wonderful tale of travel experiences in Turkey, June 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Turkish Tapestry: A Traveller's Portrait of Turkey (Paperback)

Ms. Chase has traveled extensively in Turkey for many years, beginning as a student in the early 1970s and in the years since then. She portrays the fascinating mix of cultures, the archeology, the food and the endless variety of visual impressions with wit, vivacity and charm...I consider this book an essential preparation for anyone planning an actual visit to Turkey, and a joy to read for the vicarious experience of a trip to this colorful Near Eastern country.

5.0 out of 5 stars Publisher comment on Kindle edition, April 10, 2010

By 

Holly Chase "Food for Thought" (Sarasota, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turkish Tapestry, A Traveller's Portrait of Turkey (Kindle Edition)

One of the beauties of a Kindle publication is that publishers may update texts and make corrections quite easily.

Readers should be aware that text formatted for Kindle may not be able to display some diacriticals in non-English alphabets. The original 1993 text had the Turkish diacriticals added manually! The Kindle edition contains a note informing readers that they may email the publisher if they would like to receive the book's glossary WITH the missing diacritical details.

Email: turkishtapestry (at) hollychase (dot) com

Though it includes-- and explains-- many Turkish words, the book is written in English, with several British spellings.

Turkish Tapestry is not a guidebook and has never been promoted as one. It was the author's intention that it would stand as a collection of personal observations and insights, reflections on a complex society in a rapidly changing part of the world.

The author invites a reader to sample Turkish culture through a series of vignettes that may be selected at random, much the way one samples the myriad meze, the savory appetizers Turks share at the beginning of a convivial evening.