Istanbul: A Tale of Three CitiesAudiobook Review by Paul Fiander
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Written by: Bettany Hughes
Narrated by: Bettany Hughes Length: 24 hrs and 39 mins Publisher: Orion |
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Why Should I Listen to Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities?
History can be fascinating to learn but in the hands of a bad teacher it can become a very dull affair. Thankfully the writer and narrator of Istanbul is Bettany Hughes a well known broadcaster as well as a historian. Using both of these talents Hughes crafts a journey through the city of Istanbul. It's a story which is full of real life intrigue, wealth, suffering and fighting to the extent that even a Game of Thrones fan would say "Hold on, that's a little strong" This is a passion filled title that moves at a swift pace and never feels dull throughout its 24 hour length. |
Review
The Eternal City, The Big Apple and The Diamond between two Sapphires are the alternative names of three cities. The names of Rome and New York are pretty common however the Sapphire was a new one on me but it holds the key to this wonderful book by Historian Bettany Hughes. The city in question as you can see from the title is Istanbul. The city has been known over the years by three names Byzantium, Constantinople and of course Istanbul.
It feels quite rare for a book to look at a patch of land and mark its entire history but this is the way Hughes has gone about creating her book. The wonder of the city though begs for this kind of treatment as we get to see gateway between east and west opened up before our eyes. Although the author has done an extensive job in detailing the highs and lows of the city and the empires built around it giving a complete history would be rather impossible. This however is not a gentle overview instead we walk through the years pinpointing key dates and changes. It is an approach I appreciate as you get a great picture of the history of the city and also a gateway into looking at events mentioned within the text.
It feels quite rare for a book to look at a patch of land and mark its entire history but this is the way Hughes has gone about creating her book. The wonder of the city though begs for this kind of treatment as we get to see gateway between east and west opened up before our eyes. Although the author has done an extensive job in detailing the highs and lows of the city and the empires built around it giving a complete history would be rather impossible. This however is not a gentle overview instead we walk through the years pinpointing key dates and changes. It is an approach I appreciate as you get a great picture of the history of the city and also a gateway into looking at events mentioned within the text.
Don’t be fooled though this is a colossal book, coming in at a shade over twenty four and a half hours. Thankfully though the narration by the author is a real plus for the book, at times some history text can come across as a bit dry as names and texts are thrown at you by someone who is reading from a script without knowing about the subject. Obviously not all authors are up to the task of narrating but in Hughes we have a historian and a presenter who shows her strength in both roles throughout the work. Her passion is obvious as she narrates her own work, there is a love for the subject matter that flows through each sentence especially when the losses of the city come into focus. These are more common than I would have guessed as the city has survived attacks, famines and fires and a lot more in-between.
Despite the obvious love of the city and its history we are not getting a glossed over version of events. The negatives of the place and its rulers shine through and are far from pleasant at times. There is however no sense of morose voyeurism to the events instead descriptions are more there for you to get a feel of the place. This comes in to sharp focus as we get a little aside onto the vision of the city from England. Istanbul was seen as an important trading throughout its history and surprisingly there is evidence of English interactions further back than I thought. The idea of a mystic city full of treasures and harems is an exotic vision and although it was true to a certain extent this was more the 1% than the normal life led by the common people.
With a vast amount of knowledge and passion Bettany Hughes has created a well rounded history of a remarkable city. It may not be all encompassing but it covers more than you would expect with a style that easy to get into and ultimately highly enlightening.
Despite the obvious love of the city and its history we are not getting a glossed over version of events. The negatives of the place and its rulers shine through and are far from pleasant at times. There is however no sense of morose voyeurism to the events instead descriptions are more there for you to get a feel of the place. This comes in to sharp focus as we get a little aside onto the vision of the city from England. Istanbul was seen as an important trading throughout its history and surprisingly there is evidence of English interactions further back than I thought. The idea of a mystic city full of treasures and harems is an exotic vision and although it was true to a certain extent this was more the 1% than the normal life led by the common people.
With a vast amount of knowledge and passion Bettany Hughes has created a well rounded history of a remarkable city. It may not be all encompassing but it covers more than you would expect with a style that easy to get into and ultimately highly enlightening.
Reviewers own copy, Cover Image courtesy of Publisher
