Point Of Books The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1)
| Title | : | The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1) |
| Author | : | Jason Goodwin |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 320 pages |
| Published | : | May 15th 2007 by Picador USA (first published May 16th 2006) |
| Categories | : | Mystery. Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Crime. Historical Mystery |
Jason Goodwin
Paperback | Pages: 320 pages Rating: 3.54 | 5427 Users | 816 Reviews
Narrative During Books The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1)
"Jason Goodwin has unleashed his talent on a series of mysteries set in nineteenth-century Istanbul and starring the unlikeliest and most engaging of detectives: Yashim the eunuch."The Janissary Tree is the first in the series, and the year is 1836. Europe is modernizing, and the sultan of the Ottoman Empire feels he has no choice but to follow suit. But just as he's poised to announce sweeping political change, a wave of murders threatens the fragile balance of power in his court. Who is behind the killings?
Deep in the Abode of Felicity, the most forbidden district of Topkapi Palace, the sultan - ruler of the Black Sea and the White, ruler of Rumelia and Mingrelia, lord of Anatolia and Ionia, Romania and Macedonia, Protector of the Holy Cities, steely rider through the realms of bliss - announces, "Send for Yashim." Leading us through the palace's luxurious seraglios and Istanbul's teeming streets, Yashim places together the clues.
He is not alone. He depends on the wisdom of a dyspeptic Polish ambassador, a transsexual dancer, and the Creole-born queen mother. He manages to find sweet salvation in the arms of another man's wife (this is not your everyday eunuch!). And he introduces us to the Janissaries.
For four hundred years, they were the empire's elite soldiers. But they grew too powerful, and ten years earlier the sultan had them crushed. Are the Janissaries staging a brutal comeback? And if they are, how can they be stopped without throwing Istanbul into political chaos?
Specify Books To The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1)
| Original Title: | The Janissary Tree |
| ISBN: | 0312426135 (ISBN13: 9780312426132) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Yashim the Eunuch #1 |
| Characters: | Investigator Yashim, Sultan Mahmud II, Valide Sultan Aimée, Seraskier, Stanislaw Palewski |
| Setting: | Istanbul,1836(Turkey) |
| Literary Awards: | Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel (2007), Edgar Award for Best Novel (2007) |
Rating Of Books The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1)
Ratings: 3.54 From 5427 Users | 816 ReviewsCriticize Of Books The Janissary Tree (Yashim the Eunuch #1)
I tried it, but would not consider reading further in the series. The slow pace with abundance of historical detail brought the progress of the plot to a mournful halt on many occasions. For me, at least, a little OTtoman Empire goes a long way.This book got off to a slow start, but it did pick up. It's carried by Yashim - the main character - and his Polish friend. The mystery is somewhat less prominent, and there are a few plot inconsistencies - like the sudden lack of interest in where the four soldiers were. And so on. Other reviewers have also pointed out many historical inaccuracies - which, since I know very little about nineteenth century Istanbul, I missed. But despite all that, I'm giving it four stars because I enjoyed
This historical murder mystery reminds me of Caleb Carr's writing except Goodwin doesn't have Carr's flair for suspense nor can he generate the excitement or horror that Carr achieves in books like "The Alienist". In short, Goodwin isn't a GREAT murder/mystery writer, but he is a GOOD mystery writer and what he does achieve here is an ability to transport the reader back to Istanbul in the 1830's. I had read Goodwin's history book of the Ottoman Empire, "Lord's of the Horizon" and what is
Picked this up because I read a blurb on NPR about the cookbook. I like food, I like mysteries, I like history... I also like good writing. This book has the first three, and also 50% of the last. It has writing.It has a lot of writing. I suspect that Jason Goodwin wrote technical manuals in his previous career.This is one of those books where the author feels the need to put down every piece of research they did for the book directly into the book. Apparently many details aren't accurate, which
Excellent mystery in which the author successfully uses his encyclopedic academic knowledge of the Ottoman empire circa 1830. Historians don't often have the ability to turn their interesting knowledge into a compelling book but Goodwin does. Although very good, his skill suggests that he could improve as a writer (and may have done so, as this is the first in a series). What I loved about this book is the palpable atmosphere he creates of this under appreciated advanced culture. Goodwin is at
In THE JANISSARY TREE, Jason Goodwin introduces us to a fascinating character: Detective Yasmin, a man whose keen observations of the world around him bring to life the tumultuous era of 19th century Istanbul. Yasmin is a eunuch, but not without his own appetites; favored by the palace, he is called upon by the Sultan, who is on the cusp of introducing sweeping changes even as he dwells in an archaic system of officials, harem girls, indolence and stifling etiquette. But when the bodies of four
This book is very, very encouraging for prospective authors of historical fiction: By all means, go ahead and write a book and don't bother to make any research: there are enough idiots out there (including myself) with plenty of time and money to spend recklessly on a boring story and facts that don't simply match. This is a waste!- Many of the names are made-up; Yashim, Preen, Palmuk! What the heck? These names are not Turkish at all!- The story transpires in 1836; there are visionary
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