Turkey is a country with a vast and rich literary tradition, and there is a wealth of both fiction and non-fiction titles covering the country’s rich history. Here are some of the best books about the Taurus Mountains and Turkey.
A Coup in Turkey
by Jeremy Seal
This dramatic and revealing book uncovers the story of the 1960 coup which saw the deposition of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. Seal guides us through the events before, during and after the coup, making eye-opening comparisons to the political situation of recent years.
An Ottoman Empire
by Robert Dankoff & Sooyong Kim
This collection of pieces by prolific writer Evliya Çelebi is expertly translated, bringing to life the culture, nature, politics and science of the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century.
By Any Other Name: A Cultural History of the Rose
by Simon Morley
A representation of love and beauty, the rose is a popular flower across continents. Morley tells the story of how it was first grown in the Middle East for its scent and medicinal properties, before seducing the world.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
by Anthony Doerr
A Sunday Times Bestseller, Cloud Cuckoo Land links dreamers from the past, present and future in a story of survival. Packed full of adventure, the novel links characters from 15th century Constantinople, 21st century Idaho and somewhere, sometime in the future through a single ancient text.
From the Holy Mountain
by William Dalrymple
In 587 AD two monks took an extraordinary journey across the Byzantine world, collecting wisdom of the sages and mystics of the Byzantine East. Nearly 1,500 years later, Dalrymple followed in their footsteps, travelling through Turkey, Beirut, the West Bank and Egypt.
Portrait of a Turkish Family
by Irfan Orga
Irfan Orga tells the story of how his prosperous family was plunged into poverty as the First World War began and Turkey became a republic.
The Turkish Embassy Letters: 1716-1718
by Mary Wortley Montagu
An intellectual, free spirit, aristocrat and feminist, Mary Wortley Montagu was an extraordinary woman. In 1716 she moved to Istanbul as the wife of the British ambassado, writing a series of letters showing her affection and fascination with Turkish culture.
Turkey: A Short History
by Norman Stone
Having lived and worked in Turkey for over 20 years, Stone has an incredible knowledge and understanding of the country’s history. He examines the empire’s long decline and the birth of the modern republic, and how the many elements of Turkish culture form its national identity.
The Caravan Moves On
by Irfan Orga
Orga journeyed to the centre of Turkey and the Taurus Mountains, learning about the legends and lore of nomad culture. Written in the mid-20th century, it’s a fascinating insight into traditional Yürük culture.
Argentum
by James Leslie-Melville
Although Argentum takes the reader on a journey across far flung corners of Europe, the story begins in Anatolia. Notably, the author has travelled with The Slow Cyclist several times over the years and most recently on our journey through Turkey’s Taurus Mountains.
If our selection of books about the Taurus Mountains has inspired you to come cycling and walking in Turkey with us, find out more about our journeys or enquire now.
