L'amore è come la ferita di una spada

More about the book

A powerful saga set during the decline of a great empire, this narrative spans the final decades of the 19th century to the post-WWI emergence of Atatürk as Turkey's leader and reformer. The story unfolds through four gripping books featuring a diverse cast: an Ottoman army officer, the Sultan’s personal doctor, a royal family member torn between tradition and Western ideals, and a Turkish aristocrat attracted to a conservative spiritual leader despite her life in Paris. Themes of intrigue, betrayal, love, war, progress, and tradition serve as a vibrant backdrop as these characters navigate a transforming society and the disintegration of the Sublime Empire. This Turkish saga, reminiscent of War and Peace, employs lively prose to explore the era's social currents and the characters' emotional lives. The portrayal of female characters challenges stereotypes about Turkey, the Middle East, and Muslim nations. Ahmet Altan, a significant Turkish writer and journalist, was imprisoned in 2016 on false charges, prompting widespread international outcry. An advocate for minority rights, he has authored ten bestselling novels and received multiple awards, including the Freedom and Future of the Media Prize. His English-language debut, Endgame, was recognized as one of 2017's notable works of fiction.