From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
Written from the perspective of those in the harem, this is a detailed if not particularly cohesive study of life inside a harem. As the cover might suggest, this book builds upon Western fantasies of harem life; in that sense it's quite entertaining, though I'm not sure if it's entirely accurate. The best aspect of the book by far is visual, with hundreds of wonderful illustrations. They certainly give a good sense of the luxuriousness of life in the seraglio (specifically, Topkapi Palace).
...more
