The Aviary Gate
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Review
'A hugely enjoyable novel, multi-layered, vividly depicted and a fascinating story, filled with the colours, sights and scents of Constantinople in the sixteenth century ... fast moving, complex and deeply satisfying' Joanne Harris 'Forbidden love, sailors and secrets - fasten your seat belts for Hickman's period tome ... Think Jane Austen meets Pirates of the Caribbean' In Style 'A magical, engrossing read that takes us inside a 16th century harem - and into a world populated by scheming, exotic characters ... this absorbing novel of intrigue and forbidden love manages to be both cerebral and entertaining' Glamour 'Lie back on your ottoman and relax. Katie Hickman will take you to a magical land, the Topkapi harem in Istanbul in Istanbul in 1599...There are luscious descriptions of costumes, of silk robes and mother-of-pearl twinsets, of ropes of jewels...this is a box of Turkish delight' Independent
In Style UK, May 1st 2008
'Forbidden love, sailors and secrets - fasten your seat belts for Hickman's period tome'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved this and will recommend it highly to any of my friends who enjoy historical fiction. It is lush, sexy, shocking and a thrilling read. Set during two time-frames, present day and 1599, it follows the story of Celia Lamprey a slave to the Sultan of the Ottoman empire. Hot on her heels, to discover if she was a genuine person, is the academic Elizabeth. We follow both women on their searches and find out much more than dry historic books would have you believe.
The style of writing is languorous and beautifully descriptive - it matches the setting perfectly. It gives a fascinating insight in how the west perceives harems and what goes on behind the scenes.
All I can say is: find a copy, read it and then see what you think about it. Some people, like the previous reviewer, would not like it, but others, like me, will love it, purely because the style is so very different.
Katie Hickman is a fantastic researcher and has written some excellent books, notably her Daughters of Britannia book which excels at giving a voice to women who are seen in so many instances, but hardly ever heard.
The style of writing is languorous and beautifully descriptive - it matches the setting perfectly. It gives a fascinating insight in how the west perceives harems and what goes on behind the scenes.
All I can say is: find a copy, read it and then see what you think about it. Some people, like the previous reviewer, would not like it, but others, like me, will love it, purely because the style is so very different.
Katie Hickman is a fantastic researcher and has written some excellent books, notably her Daughters of Britannia book which excels at giving a voice to women who are seen in so many instances, but hardly ever heard.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As previous reviews have covered the plot, I'll just say that The Aviary Gate was one of the most visceral reads I've ever had the pleasure of getting lost in. I could feel the silks of the harem's garments, see the sun striking the rooftops of Constantinople, smell the pungent roses in the garden at the Sultan's palace and taste the seawater of the Bosphorus. I used to come down with a thump when I'd close the book and realize that I was actually in England and not ensconced in the Sultan's palace.
The story brilliantly weaves historical fact with romantic fiction. It was an insight into Eastern culture and harems that few of us would ever have otherwise had. I couldn't put the book down but at the same time I didn't want it to finish so I'd carefully meter my daily reading.
Honestly, if you're looking for a sensory book that will play up to your senses, intellect and romantic nature, then The Aviary Gate has to top your list.
The story brilliantly weaves historical fact with romantic fiction. It was an insight into Eastern culture and harems that few of us would ever have otherwise had. I couldn't put the book down but at the same time I didn't want it to finish so I'd carefully meter my daily reading.
Honestly, if you're looking for a sensory book that will play up to your senses, intellect and romantic nature, then The Aviary Gate has to top your list.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really liked the idea about an English slave re-discovered by a modern day Oxford academic. But unfortunately the book left me disappointed.
The modern-day heroine is more hate- than love able. Thinking it should be the description of a graduate student is laughable. Her story takes up so much space the author could have used it for a proper second story instead of doing two half-baked ones.
There is absolutely no proper description of the harem, no feel how a 16th century Ottoman court looked like.
It also ends very open like the author already thought to continue the story and didn't know where to end the first one.
It's a shame.
The modern-day heroine is more hate- than love able. Thinking it should be the description of a graduate student is laughable. Her story takes up so much space the author could have used it for a proper second story instead of doing two half-baked ones.
There is absolutely no proper description of the harem, no feel how a 16th century Ottoman court looked like.
It also ends very open like the author already thought to continue the story and didn't know where to end the first one.
It's a shame.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Life in an Ottoman harem
This received quite mixed reviews on here and I had reservations when I began reading. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised and found it a very enjoyable read with plenty of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by DubaiReader
Good Read
I really enjoyed this book, it is the first one I have read by Kate Hickman and it won't be the last. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. Julie Illingworth
3.5 star interesting tale of slavery, deceit & love
I heard about this novel about 3 years ago on Radio Four. Neglecting to note down the title because I was driving, I discovered it again by posting a query on an historical fiction... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ben Kane
Beautiful read
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The history, the twists of the story ... the unpredictable ending. Had to keep reading to find out what happened and then was disappointed I'd... Read more
Published 15 months ago by TheOnlySoupdragon
Transported.
I came to this novel knowing nothing about the Turkish harem and very little about the life of an Oxford graduate; so I can't comment on it's accuracy in the way that other... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mrs Alison Douglass
Good, but meandering story
The basic story is promising: a modern-day post-graduate history student finds a fragment of a document in the Bodleian library which spurs her into a journey to Turkey in search... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bluebell
Scheming 16th Century Harem
The story begins in the present time when student Elizabeth Staveley discovers a parchment in the Bodleian library that she's been looking for and which could hold the key to a... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Mrs. C. Colbert
Missed opportunity
It seemd like an opportunity missed to write such a lightweight book about such an interesting period in history.
It was a thoroughly pleasant book to read. Read more
It was a thoroughly pleasant book to read. Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2009 by Janie U
Disappointing
After visiting Istanbul recently I became intrigued with the stories of the Ottoman harem and so this book initially grabbed my attention. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2009 by Cheryl
(3.5*) Lush writing, mostly clichéd plot but lifted by the...
At the end of this book, Hickman mentions all the research she did: but sadly while it definitely pays off in terms of atmosphere - rustling silks, perfumed gardens, glittering... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by Roman Clodia
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