Review by Choice Review
Faroqhi (Univ. of Munich and Istanbul Bilgi Univ.), a highly respected and prolific Ottoman specialist well suited to discuss nearly every aspect of the Ottoman experience, offers a comprehensive account in this breezy translation from the German. There are a few caveats, however. Separate sections on "women" are surprising, since the author's knowledge and the state of the field allow integration of the valuable research on women into the larger narrative of Ottoman history. Second, at a crucial point, the translation of a section title reads "Greco-Turkish" when the content clearly intended it to be "Christian-Muslim." Also, Faroqhi's presentations of both Turkish nationalism and the causes of famine are simplistic and misleading. And finally, the account of the infamous 1915 destruction of the Armenians is not well presented. While offering interpretations from both sides of the bitter controversy, the text appears to characterize the slaughter of the Armenians as justified because they were revolting against the Ottoman state. Much of the controversy is precisely over whether peaceable or revolutionary Armenians were being killed. Newcomers to the field and general audiences will profit from this clearly presented and concise survey of Ottoman history from its 13th-century origins to its 20th-century demise. Summing Up: Recommended. General, public, and undergraduate libraries. D. Quataert SUNY at Binghamton
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
