Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire by Jason Goodwin (PDF)

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“A work of dazzling beauty…the rare coming together of historical scholarship and curiosity about distant places with luminous writing.” –The New York Times Book ReviewSince the Turks first shattered the glory of the French crusaders in 1396, the Ottoman Empire has exerted a long, strong pull on Western minds. For six hundred years, the Empire swelled and declined. Islamic, martial, civilized, and tolerant, in three centuries it advanced from the dusty foothills of Anatolia to rule on the Danube and the Nile; at the Empire’s height, Indian rajahs and the kings of France beseeched its aid. For the next three hundred years the Empire seemed ready to collapse, a prodigy of survival and decay. Early in the twentieth century it fell. In this dazzling evocation of its power, Jason Goodwin explores how the Ottomans rose and how, against all odds, they lingered on. In the process he unfolds a sequence of mysteries, triumphs, treasures, and terrors unknown to most American readers.This was a place where pillows spoke and birds were fed in the snow; where time itself unfolded at a different rate and clocks were banned; where sounds were different, and even the hyacinths too strong to sniff. Dramatic and passionate, comic and gruesome, Lords of the Horizons is a history, a travel book, and a vision of a lost world all in one.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “A work of dazzling beauty…the rare coming together of historical scholarship and curiosity about distant places with luminous writing.” ―The New York Times Book Review“A meditation on a vanished world that hovers like an apparition over today’s grim headlines.” ―The New York Times Book Review“Jason Goodwin’s deftly written and beguiling history of the Ottoman Empire is particularly pertinent today, when the cauldron of ancient hatred once more boils over, but his prose would be welcome at any time.” ―The Boston Globe“May be read with pleasure and profit by everyone, not least the traveler headed east of Vienna and west of Baghdad.” ―The Wall Street Journal“A delightfully picaresque history, brimming with memorable anecdotes and outrageous personalities.” ―Kirkus Reviews About the Author JASON GOODWIN is the Edgar Award–winning author of the Investigator Yashim series. The first five books―The Janissary Tree, The Snake Stone, The Bellini Card, An Evil Eye, and The Baklava Club―have been published to international acclaim, alongside Yashim Cooks Istanbul, a cookbook of Ottoman Turkish recipes inspired by the series. Goodwin studied Byzantine history at Cambridge and is the author of Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire, among other award-winning nonfiction. He lives with his wife and children in England.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This book offers a stark contrast to Kinross’ The Ottoman Centuries. Kinross’ book is dry, stuffily pedantic, and laden with the details of obscure territorial skirmishes. While I learned the outlines of Ottoman history in Kinross, it was this book that gave me a true flavor for that vanished world – who the people were, why they acted the way they did, and how things appeared in the context of the time. It is a dazzling and confidently erudite tour of life then (without a whiff of pretension), and I was utterly engrossed from the minute I opened the book. Indeed, I was not intending to read this now, but I simply could not put it down when I looked at it out of curiosity.This is not conventional history, but a flowing narrative that skips around in time; the subject matter of the chapters are organized as dense essays on military affairs, the populations within the Empire, and governance practices. The author went directly to the original sources of memoirs, diplomatic correspondence, and military communiques, always good for the beautiful, quirky anecdote. Many readers did not like this loose style, but I thought it made the book extremely fun and readable and vivid. Nonetheless, without Kinross, this would have been a far more difficult read and perhaps at many points incomprehensible. As such, the books are complementary and can be read together at great profit. But this book is a genuine literary masterpiece that left me in awe of the author’s talent.The story is incredible: from a small band of tough nomads in the steppes of Asia, several outstanding leaders created the first truly professional army since the Roman age. To the aristocratic knights in Europe – bound by chivalric conventions and a cumbersome military apparatus with untrustworthy mercenaries – the Turks appeared as a terrifying and unstoppable force of fierce and disciplined warriors. For 200 years, they advanced into the heart of Europe and conquered large portions of Asia Minor and North Africa with dreams of world domination that appeared all too credible to contemporary observers. The Ottomans also created a multi-ethnic society that for the times was tolerant and inclusive, did not seek to convert its subjects (they could tax non-Muslims afterall), and was more or less a meritocracy based on ability more than privilege.Unfortunately, once the empiric expansion stopped, most of its virtues became deadly liabilities. During the Renaissance, the Ottoman Empire abruptly stalled and then became famously corrupt and decadent, after a series of leaders who can only be called military geniuses. Their administrative skills never advanced beyond the phenomenally innovative organization of military camps to reinvent the governance of Ottoman society. First, without the pillage income from continual conquest, revenues needed to be raised to pay the standing army. The responsibility for this fell to regional governors, who preyed upon local residents, severely undermining the authority of the state while creating a kind of aristocracy of privilege for themselves (and hence mediocrity). Second, the elite Janisseries – like the Praetorian guard of the Romans – realized the true extent of their power, and became corrupted and dangerous power brokers in Istanbul. Third, the command power of the Sultan, so useful in war, blocked the diffusion of power to a professional administrative caste, which remained under-developed into the 19th C. Effective pashas came and went, often strangled by the bowstring for failure, but they did not establish schools to train their successors. Fourth, the medieval mentality – an acceptance of fate that enabled Ottoman warriors to rush into battle with the fearlessness of religious true believers – gradually gave way to personal caution, as exemplified by the defensive behavior of its leaders. Fifth, the quality of the hereditary monarchic line declined after Suleyman the Magnificent, in large part because the Sultan’s sons were more of less imprisoned in the Harem – a parallel universe of pleasure and bizarre political machination – rather than gaining experience as governors of provinces (as they had in the empire’s early cneturies). Interestingly, none of the above issues became dead end problems in Europe, whose societies were evolving in some ways to explicitly to resolve them. Finally, the forces of nationalism created centrifugal forces that doomed the ancient mores that made such a vast, eclectic society possible, which I believe still stands as an example towards which we might strive in new ways in the current global society that is in formation.This is one of those books that can fill the reader with wonder at the sweep of history and human possibility. It has turned my interest in Turkish history into an inspiration that will sustain me for the rest of my life. Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm. Indeed, contemporary Turkey remains one of the most important political experiments on the planet in our current crisis of civilization. It is astonishing that so few Americans understand this.

⭐Well the book was decent and I found the order in which it was written a little all over the place.It had informative information but It can get hard to go through sometimes.As someone who knows a a lot about Ottoman history it was ok read for me but I would say that it still has ground for improvising.

⭐I just finished this dark and stormy popular historical book about the Ottoman Empire and I have to say that within fifteen pages of reading it I was utterly confused! Confused because studying Ottoman history for more than a decade now, and having lived in Turkey (and born there!), I didn’t find anything Ottoman Turkish about it! And then that confusion I mentioned turned to anger! And then I was enraged!!! The last time I felt this feeling of injustice was several years ago when I read Glenn Beck’s awful book– It IS About Islam– basically slamming Islam as a faith with footless arguments!I sincerely felt that author Jason Goodwin gave an unfair and dismal portrayal of the Ottoman Turks and their history (late 13th to early 19th century). It’s sad that Goodwin left out much of its glory, and beauty, and its tolerance as a model of meritocracy, multiculturalism and egalitarianism. Some even say it was a model for the United States!The Ottoman Turks ruled for 600 years over a vast territory which included half of Europe. They let the people they ruled practice their own religion in their own houses of worship. In Istanbul you could find a mosque, church and synagogue on the same block! The Ottomans were pious and spirituality was infused into every part of their life. They revered nature, flowers, and time spent outdoors among trees and birds. They gave special, caring attention to animals, dogs, cats and children (that’s probably why we have so many stray cats in Turkey!!!). They were highly charitable. I’m not saying the Ottomans were angels, but they were most certainly not the people portrayed in this book!Some examples of egregious depictions of the Ottomans and Istanbul…In the prologue he mentions the “grey, grey waters of the Bosphorus.” Not true!!! I don’t know what he is talking about! Has he ever visited Istanbul? The waters of the Bosphorus are so vividly blue that you would have to be colorblind not to notice this. But instead he tries to give a murky landscape to the main body way that flows through Istanbul. He writes of Topkapi Palace, the glorious palace that was home to the Sultans of the Empire for hundreds of years as a “petrified encampment of some defeated army.” This is insulting to our past and the palace is no such thing– I can attest to it myself having visited it numerous times. It is gorgeous and breathtaking. I wonder if he even visited it? He writes that the Ottomans were “ignorant of geography” and didn’t use clocks! The Ottomans were working with the British, the French, even the Russians! How could this be possible if they didn’t know geography or use clocks, or live in a modern way. Sultan Murad III was in correspondence with Queen Elizabeth I whom he had an alliance with, and Sultan Suleiman dealt constantly with the Venetians. The Ottomans were constantly interacting with the European world, yet Mr. Goodwin portrays then as anachronistic barbarians!He describes the empire as “darker,” “gloomy,” and “helpless.” He writes of the Ottoman dynastic family as “mad.” He specifically writes that they were an “incredibly mad and morbid family.” He doesn’t at all mention the magnificent Westward and Enlightened reigns of Selim III, Mahmud II and the incredible women who ruled it, Kosem Sultan and Hurrem Sultan, one as regent, the other behind the scenes.For me, this was not a true account of the empire but rather something created in Goodwin’s own imagination. In the resources section I don’t see the well known Turkish historians of the Ottoman Empire or many Turkish sources at all. This is his idea of this time and place, not the time and place itself! It’s fascinating how even nonfiction historical books can become fiction in how they are penned!I would suggest that Mr. Goodwin spend some time in Turkey and take a course in Turkish, for starters. And then consider rewriting his version of our history! And I’m totally shocked that Picador (the publisher) did not do their diligence and allowed this book to be published!If you want a fictional account of the Ottoman Empire made up by the author’s own imagination, then read this book. Otherwise I’d toss it! I’ve read over 100 books on the Ottoman Empire and lived in Turkey and can say this book has nothing to do with it!

⭐I have just finished reading this wonderful book for the second time,immediately following my first reading. This was not because of any problem, but simply the sheer exuberant generosity with which Jason Goodwin has endowed his history of the Ottoman Empire. A cornucopia, horn of plenty, about the Golden Horn.Previous reviewers seem dismayed that this book is not a dusty academic piece of writing, accurate to the letter, but not the spirit, of the Ottoman Empire. It is written, not like a list on a war memorial – just names & dates but, in a way it is like a beautiful wall of Iznic tiles, or an embroidered quilt, and that style reveals far more of the multi-faceted culture & six century-long Osman dynasty’s rule over vast lands & diverse peoples.I came to this book via an abiding affection for all things to do with the Ottoman Empire and especially Istanbul, its heart. Various novels, Jason Goodwin’s own Yashim ones and other authors like Elif Shafak and Jenny White, Katie Hickman & Barbara Nadel encouraged me in a desire to explore more about Istanbul & hence resort to non-fiction…. the dark side!The great thing for an amateur who revels in ancient regimes is that works of historical fiction can spawn a serious interest in studying a person or period in a greater depth. This book, Lords of the Horizons is my bridge to that, as it combines a lightly worn but profound erudition ( doubtless the result of hours of research, reading dusty tomes) with a beautiful style of writing – friendly, amusing and delightfully digressive. Goodwin’s footnotes area little treasure trove in themselves.So this largesse is why I have re-read Lords of the Horizons. I have no doubt I shall happily read it again & discover yet more interesting facts about this fascinating world.I would also recommend Ogier de Busbecq’ Turkish Letters’ trans.E.S.Forster

⭐It’s certainly a very book introduction to Ottoman world, mainly in its classical period (first 3 centuries). Reading our history from a pure European perspective was exciting however; there are some schoolboy errors with the dates, people’s ages and sultan’s numbers. For example Kosem Sultan died when she was 62 not over 80, it was Mustafa III. who was beaten in 1697 not the forth, the Ottomans resolved their differences with Iran decisively in 1639 not in 1642. It may seem small but quite important date errors all over the book. Nevertheless an amazing attempt from a westerner.

⭐This book has been on my wishlist for some time. I was really looking forward to reading it as I find the Ottoman empire really fascinating.For any book to try and cover the entire history would require volumes. This book lacks focus and I don’t feel that I know much more about the Ottomans than I did before.There are parts of the book which suggest that the author actually looks down on the Ottomans, maybe making the mistake of judging history by current standards.

⭐Never a dull moment in this tale of the Ottoman Empire, it’s arranged more by theme than by chronology (that’s at the back). It’s a huge subject: if you seek a more classic approach, you may need to look elsewhere. However, now I have an appreciation of Turkish culture which I lacked before. I recommend it.

⭐A very different book Mr. Goodwin really makes the Empire come alive before one’s eyes. His description of both daily life and life in war, together with his use of descriptions from historical sources really makes this book stand out. Nevertheless the book is sometimes confusing, especially the first chapter, and some are real nuts to crack. Sometimes historical events are just thrown into context without being explained, or it is explained several pages or chapters later. This is the reason I only give it four stars. I still recommend the book highly, both to those familiar with this part of history and those entirely new to it.

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