The Architect’s Apprentice

Description

In her most recent novel, Turkey’s superior female essayist turns an epic story traversing almost a century in the life of the Ottoman Empire. In 1540, twelve-year-old Jahan shows up in Istanbul. As a creature tamer in the ruler’s zoological garden, he cares for the astoundingly brilliant elephant Chota and gets to know (and succumbs to) the king’s lovely little girl, Princess Mihrimah. A castle instruction drives Jahan to Mimar Sinan, the domain’s main planner, who encourages Jahan as they develop (with Chota’s assistance) probably the most glorious structures ever. However even as they manufacture Sinan’s victorious works of art—the unbelievable Suleymaniye and Selimiye mosques—perilous propensities start to develop, with desire emitting among Sinan’s four understudies.