Sacred spaces : Turkish mosques & tombs /

Highlighting about 30 famous and lesser-known Turkish sites, noted photojournalist-essayist Cross captures the elegance, heart, and architectural spirit of the Ottoman Empire with her stunning photographs. Included are the Hagia Sophia and Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Istanbul, the Green Mosque and Tomb and the Bayazid I Mosque in Bursa, Eski Camii in Edirne, and the Sokollu Mosque and complex in Luleburgaz, among others that excel in beauty and perspective with their surroundings. She displays a vast array of memorable domes, arches, minarets, doors, windows, and other features that boast richness of color, design, and decoration. The text is minimal and direct yet appropriately filled with historical facts and details about the individual buildings, the sultans and rulers for whom they were created, and those who created them, including the great architect Sinan. VERDICT The photography of interiors, exteriors, and cityscapes is the star of this beautiful travelog of sorts, which should be purchased by enthusiasts and libraries that feature collections of Islamic and Middle Eastern arts, architecture, and culture.--Stephen Allan -Patrick, Jonesborough, TN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.