Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
32 used & new from £5.00
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Istanbul: The Imperial City
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Istanbul: The Imperial City (Paperback)

by John Freely (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £3.90 (30%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 5 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 21? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
22 new from £6.20 10 used from £5.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 5 used & new from £7.25

Frequently Bought Together

Istanbul: The Imperial City + Istanbul: Memories of a City + Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide)
Price For All Three: £25.77

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Istanbul: Memories of a City

Istanbul: Memories of a City

by Orhan Pamuk
4.7 out of 5 stars (7)  £4.99
Istanbul (Lonely Planet City Guide)

Istanbul (Lonely Planet City Guide)

by Virginia Maxwell
2.9 out of 5 stars (12)  £6.49
A Short History of Byzantium

A Short History of Byzantium

by John Julius Norwich
3.7 out of 5 stars (12)  £11.89
Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide)

Istanbul (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide)

4.4 out of 5 stars (7)  £11.69
"Time Out" Istanbul (Time Out Istanbul)

"Time Out" Istanbul (Time Out Istanbul)

by Time Out Guides Ltd
3.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £7.79
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (26 Feb 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140244611
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140244618
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 158,501 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #42 in  Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > Turkey
    #51 in  Books > History > Countries & Regions > Asia > Middle East > Turkey

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

  • See Complete Table of Contents

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Imperial City EC3V
   bookatable.com/Imperial_City    Book a table now with our Free instant online booking service 
Istanbul
   www.TripAdvisor.co.uk    Know Before You Go. Read Reviews from Real Travelers. 
Imperial City
   www.Ask.com    Find the Best Results for Imperial City 
  
 

Product Description

Product Description
Istanbul's history is a catalogue of change, not least of name, yet it has managed to retain its own unique identity. John Freely captures the flavour of daily life as well as court ceremonial and intrigue. The book also includes a comprehensive gazetteer of all major monuments and museums. An in-depth study of this legendary city through its many different ages from its earliest foundation to the present day - the perfect traveller's companion and guide.

About the Author
John Freely first went to Istanbul in 1960 to teach physics at Robert College, now the University of the Bosphorus, to which he returned in 1993. His first book was STROLLING THROUGH ISTANBUL and he has subsequently written more than twenty other travel books including CLASSICAL TURKEY, STROLLING THROUGH ATHENS, and STROLLING THROUGH VENICE.

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
(1)
(1)
See all 4 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Istanbul: The Imperial City
57% buy the item featured on this page:
Istanbul: The Imperial City 4.0 out of 5 stars (8)
£9.09
Istanbul: Memories of a City
22% buy
Istanbul: Memories of a City 4.7 out of 5 stars (7)
£4.99
Istanbul (Lonely Planet City Guide)
8% buy
Istanbul (Lonely Planet City Guide) 2.9 out of 5 stars (12)
£6.49
Constantinople: Istanbul's Historical Heritage
7% buy
Constantinople: Istanbul's Historical Heritage 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£12.74
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Indespensible for any stay in Istanbul, long or short!, 17 April 2000
By A Customer
This is a delightful combination of history and guide, addressing the history of Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul from the earliest Greek settlements to the present day. Mr.Freely provides a short but very readable account of the reigns of every Emperor and Sultan (and regardless of origin or religion the vast majority were a ghastly but entertaining bunch!) and sets them in the context of the growth of the city and of its principle monuments. The book is worth purchasing for the guide section alone, which is at the end, and which provides excellent short descriptions of al the main architectural features and archaeological remains. This reader's only regret is that the book had not yet been published when he spent significant periods in Istanbul, for it is not only unique in concept and format, but also superior to any other book he has encountered as a guide to this wonderful city. It can be thoroughly recommended for anybody making a visit to Istanbul, however short. Readers whose interest is whetted by the chapters on pre-conquest Constantinople will find that John Julius Norwich's splendid three volume-history of Byzantium provides the extra, and fascinating, detail they crave.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, 19 Aug 2007
By Brian G. Muirhead "brian" (Oxfordshire GB) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
After the good reviews and recommendations I was disappointed by this book. Of course it is ambitious to chart 27 centuries of the history of one city but the book rather turns into one long chronicle of who succeeds whom as ruler of Byzantium with a lot of irrelevant names and relationships. Better books exist to both describe the architectural splendours of Istanbul and convey a sense of its atmosphere.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Istanbul revealed, 14 Mar 2007
By Amanda J. Lund-lack "kitaplar severim" (Stowmarket, Suffolk ,UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I found this invaluable reading before my first visit to Istanbul. I felt able to connect with the city the moment I arrived. John Freely has a very informative narrative style and the book flows through the very complicated history of the area over the last 2,500 years with great detail but with excellent continuity. His feel for this part of the world and his delight in exploring it's history is obvious in his writing. Am looking forward to reading other books by him.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Think twice before choosing as pre-travel reading
This book is ok. I have read better organised popular history books and there seem to be a lack of them on Istanbul. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Zephania Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars An ultra-great history read,
I guess, the best saying about Istanbul is from Petrus Gyllius, -a French humanist and diplomat- who had been to Istanbul during the age of Suleyman the Magnificent. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2004 by S. YALCINKAYA

5.0 out of 5 stars An ultra-great history read
John Freely is a magnificant author and obviously in love with Istanbul. Actually he is a physic professor. You can follow his precise style in all of his books. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2004 by S. YALCINKAYA

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a studio prop!
When, in the popular film NOTTING HILL, the bookseller character (Hugh Grant) prominently recommended this book to the famous actress/bookstore customer character (Julia Roberts),... Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2004 by Joseph Haschka

2.0 out of 5 stars Be very careful with this book ....
In theory I should love this book, as I love history, and Istanbul fascinates me, but .... I see this book for sale everywhere and it seems to be well regarded, but ... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2004

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Imperial Istanbul: A Traveller's...

Imperial Istanbul: A...

Jane Taylor's classic guidebook to Istanbul is acknowledged as the... Read more

›Find similar items

 

More From John Freely

The Cyclades

The Cyclades by John Freely

The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek isles, renowned for the... Read more
£13.99 £9.79

 

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Braun Oral-B Professional Care 6000 Rechargeable Toothbrush - Pack of 2
Put a sparkle in your smile with up to 50% off selected Oral-B and Philips rechargeable toothbrushes.

›Up to 50% off power toothbrushes

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates