The Tour
I have not read Dan Brown’s latest best-selling novel (out in paperback last month), Inferno
In the words of the website:
When Dan Brown was researching Inferno, he visited Istanbul in 2009 and met with renowned tour-guide Serhan Güngör. Brown later revealed that Serhan was the inspiration behind the character Mirsat, the enthusiastic guide who shows Langdon around the Hagia Sophia, before becoming increasingly bewildered and concerned by the professor’s mystifying antics. In conjunction with esteemed travel agents, istanbulstepbystep.com (FEST Travel), Serhan is now offering tours ‘In Search of Dan Brown’s Historic Pensinula.
Other books set in or about Istanbul
Istanbul: A Cultural History (2012) by Peter Clark Like it says, a cultural history of Istanbul. Beautifully done. See the review here.
Strolling Through Istanbul, The Classic Guide to the City by Hilary Sumner-Boyd & John Freely (Originally published 1972; new edition, 2010) An old guide book that may never be topped. See the review here.
The Harem Midwife by Roberta Rich (2014) Historical novel set in Constantinople amidst the intrigue of the court. See the review here.
The Dervish by Frances Kazan (2013) Historic novel set at the end of the Ottoman Empire. See the review here.
The Serenity Murders by Mehmet Murat Somer A contemporary Istanbul mystery with a very different lead character. By a Turkish author. See the review here.
Letter from a Stranger (2012) by Barbara Taylor Bradford Although this author is not MY cup of tea, she has some evocative descriptions of Istanbul that stick with me. See the review here.
The Topkapi Secret (What They Learn About the Koran Could Change the World…or Cost Them Their Lives) by Terry Kelhawk (2010) An adventure regarding controversial researchon the Koran. Set in today’s Topkapi Palace and various Istanbul neighborhoods. See the review here.
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Thanks much for this list! Having just been in Istanbul, a number of these books call out to be added to my (ever-growing) books just waiting to be read. I did by Dan Brown’s Inferno at Costco and have it in the line up. Now that I see there’s an Istanbul connection it might move up a bit higher!
May I also suggest Museum of Innocence by Orhan Parmuk, a very different love story set in Istanbul.
Thanks, Janet. I must confess I tried to read Museum of Innocence and could not make it through. My experience with that book has discouraged me from trying others of his, unfortunately. It is not often that I give up on a book!