Drill, Baby, Drill. Part I: The Harem

Back at the Janey II, they are still working on the foundation. So am I, which is not surprising. There is so-o-o-o-o much to research for Book Three. This week I’m drilling down into the depths of detail about the women’s quarters (the harem) in Topkapi Palace in the mid 1500s, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. About 90% of what I learn won’t be part of the story, but the other 10% will be vital.

Here’s the tricky part. Back in the 1500s, the harem was a very private part of the c...