Synopses & Reviews
"Érich, firsthand accounts are an alluring invitation into the labyrinthine
corridors of the Turkish harem." --San Francisco Chronicle
"A serious history, yet an immensely readable oneÑinformative, gossipy
and grand fun." --The New York Times Book Review
"I was born in an old houseÉthat was once the harem of a pasha. During my childhood,
slaves and odalisques lived there with us." So begins this history of one of the strangest
institutions any culture has ever developed. Drawing on firsthand accounts and memoirs,
Harem explores life in the world's harems from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
This exotic volume is richly illustrated with extravagant works by European artists and
exquisite Turkish woodcuts, gemlike Persian miniatures, and historic photographs.
Born in Turkey, Alev Lytle Croutier is a screenwriter and documentary producer.
125 illustrations, 50 in full color
Synopsis
Drawing on a host of intimate first-hand accounts and memoirs, Harem explores life in the world's harems, from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century, focusing on the fabled and ever-mysterious Seraglio of Topkapi Palace as a paradigm for all.