New from the eminent historian Norman Stone, who has lived and worked in the country since 1997, comes this concise survey of Turkeys relations with its immediate neighbours and the wider world from the 11th century to the present day. Stone deftly conducts the reader through this story, from the arrival of the Seljuks in Anatolia in the eleventh century to the modern republic applying for EU membership in the twenty-first. It is an historical account of epic proportions, featuring rapacious leaders such as Genghis Khan and Tamerlane through the glories of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent to Kemal Atatürk, the reforming genius and founder of modern Turkey.
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Review
'Impressive, and suggests a contemporary Herodotus at work ... Stone does justice to the enormous complexity of Turkish history'
--Standpoint
'Arresting ... authoritative and measured ... Stone's Turkey breaks the popular mould and introduces its readers to a place beyond their presumptions' --The Sunday Times
'Brilliant and readable ... pithy, straightforward, superbly argued and very funny ... This is a book you could easily read on a plane ride to Istanbul, and you should, too'
--Country Life
`Norman Stone is one of the great historians of our time ... a refreshing and sometimes surprising view of Turkish history' --Military Illustrated
'Stone's irreverent narrative is a spur to read more about a forgotten power that is central to Europe's history' --The Financial Times
'Lively, forceful and fast-moving'
--The Scotsman
'Gripping'
--The Catholic Herald
'An enjoyable gallop through the history of Turks' --The Literary Review
'However many histories of Turkey you have read, you will never have read one as incisive, combative and sure-footed as this one, which is also delightfully brisk and extremely funny' --Cornucopia
'An authoritative but clear guide to an extremely complex subject in a lavishly illustrated, easy-to-follow format'
--Good Book Guide
`A fanfare for modern Turkey and a vivid, provocative, often funny, always insightful account of how it came about ... If you really don't know why a portrait of Ataturk hangs in almost every shop in Turkey, read this book' --The Guardian
'Races from the 11th century to the present with irreverent economy'
--Irish Independent
--Standpoint
'Arresting ... authoritative and measured ... Stone's Turkey breaks the popular mould and introduces its readers to a place beyond their presumptions' --The Sunday Times
'Brilliant and readable ... pithy, straightforward, superbly argued and very funny ... This is a book you could easily read on a plane ride to Istanbul, and you should, too'
--Country Life
`Norman Stone is one of the great historians of our time ... a refreshing and sometimes surprising view of Turkish history' --Military Illustrated
'Stone's irreverent narrative is a spur to read more about a forgotten power that is central to Europe's history' --The Financial Times
'Lively, forceful and fast-moving'
--The Scotsman
'Gripping'
--The Catholic Herald
'An enjoyable gallop through the history of Turks' --The Literary Review
'However many histories of Turkey you have read, you will never have read one as incisive, combative and sure-footed as this one, which is also delightfully brisk and extremely funny' --Cornucopia
'An authoritative but clear guide to an extremely complex subject in a lavishly illustrated, easy-to-follow format'
--Good Book Guide
`A fanfare for modern Turkey and a vivid, provocative, often funny, always insightful account of how it came about ... If you really don't know why a portrait of Ataturk hangs in almost every shop in Turkey, read this book' --The Guardian
'Races from the 11th century to the present with irreverent economy'
--Irish Independent
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Turkey A Short History" is a great introduction to the country.As a history it is packed with information and with clear analyses of causes and effects but it is much, much more than just a chronological account. Norman Stone's style keeps the tone lively and always readable. He exhibits a dry sense of humour and a common sense approach as well as impressive scholarship.
I particularly like the comments on the Turkish language, which to the casual visitor can seem so baffling.Throughout the text there is a real sense of the author's involvement in and passion for this perplexing and enchanting country. When a reflection on a relevant situation in the modern world would illuminate a historical point, the author doesn't flinch from making it.
The illustrations are beguiling and very evocative. My only caveat about the book is that only one map has been included: that for 1683, when the Ottoman empire was at its greatest extent. I would have liked more maps from different eras and I think they would have helped to illustrate the seismic movements of peoples and armies in this region.
Read and enjoy it and then visit the appendix on further reading. This volume opens the gate.
I particularly like the comments on the Turkish language, which to the casual visitor can seem so baffling.Throughout the text there is a real sense of the author's involvement in and passion for this perplexing and enchanting country. When a reflection on a relevant situation in the modern world would illuminate a historical point, the author doesn't flinch from making it.
The illustrations are beguiling and very evocative. My only caveat about the book is that only one map has been included: that for 1683, when the Ottoman empire was at its greatest extent. I would have liked more maps from different eras and I think they would have helped to illustrate the seismic movements of peoples and armies in this region.
Read and enjoy it and then visit the appendix on further reading. This volume opens the gate.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Pity the poor reader who is curious about history but not to the extent of six or seven hundred pages of it. As a wild generalistion, many history books are too long, written for specialists who will not be reading it entirely for pleasure. As an art form, a short history is hard to write, but Normn Stone excels at it. This is a very good book, taking a huge topic (as he admits) and making it intelligible in less than 200 pages. Ambitiously, it starts at the beginning with the origins of the Turks in the west after a long migration from the frontiers of China. At the end of the book, we have arrived at 2010. Yet Stone never seems hurried, and always keeps the reader interested. It is accurate, incisive, opinionated, and never dull. I recommnd this to anyone trying to follow Turkey's long and colourful history, or just going there on holiday. A must-read book.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Informative and short. You need to read many others to get a comprehensive handle on Turkey, but this one gives you a quick and easy head start. And very much up to date. Excellent book to start with.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Craftmanship
I'm not a historian but a surgeon. However my passion through the last 40 years is history and as such I have extensive knowledge of history. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mik Holst
1.0 out of 5 stars
Turkey: A Long Disappointment
TURKEY: A SHORT HISTORY
by
Norman Stone
This review is by the Cote D'Azur Men's Book Group which comprises a dozen retired academics, accountants, engineers,... Read more
by
Norman Stone
This review is by the Cote D'Azur Men's Book Group which comprises a dozen retired academics, accountants, engineers,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by N. J. Freedman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old-fashioned history
No one would expect an objective analysis from Norman Stone, who has never made the slightest attempt to hide his Turcophile tendencies. Read more
Published 22 months ago by T. Burkard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb primer
I think the more extreme negative reviews of this book are misleading. Turkey is one of those countries that are a source of endless fascination. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Cardew Robinson
1.0 out of 5 stars
What a disappointment
Having expected much, I was disapppointed with this short book. There is much to potentially interest albeit at a superficial level, but it is poorly written, appears to have... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Keith H
1.0 out of 5 stars
Norman Stone's name printed larger than book title
This is one of the worst history books which I have read.
Norman Stone luxuriates in descriptions of violence and is too opinionated to make this book an interesting... Read more
Norman Stone luxuriates in descriptions of violence and is too opinionated to make this book an interesting... Read more
Published on 18 April 2011 by amazonjohn
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