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Lords of the Horizons
Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire | Jason Goodwin
2 posts | 2 read | 3 to read
Since 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.
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review
Phoebus
Mehso-so

Really enjoyable easy read. Although the sequence of the book is loosely chronological, the chapters often go back in forth in time when discussing themes. I was hoping for there to be more about the decline and last days of the Empire.

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Pruzy
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Today's book haul: Lords of the Horizon by Jason Goodwin, Universal Harvester by John Darnielle & The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak courtesy of my trip to the bookstore after work. Also pictured: Bag with readerly quote from said bookstore.

mllemay Ah, Chapters/Indigo bags...instantly recognizable 😂 I put the John Darnielle book on hold at the library and I can't wait to read it! It's not my usual genre but it sounded really intriguing. 8y
Pruzy @mllemay It had me at mystery VHS 8y
mllemay @Pruzy yeah, the mystery appealed to me too! I'm just scared it's going to be too much on the horror side for me 😬 8y
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Pruzy @mllemay I guess we'll find out soon 👻 8y
GypsyKat I just added Universal Harvester and The Impossible fortress (which sounds hilarious and awesome) to my TBR list. So thanks for the post! 👍🏼 8y
Pruzy @GypsyKat Glad those caught your eye! I've been waiting for those to come out since late last year! 8y
GypsyKat I had never heard of them before. This is one thing that I love about this app, it exposes me to new books all the time! 😊 8y
Pruzy @GypsyKat It sure does! 😃 8y
Branwen Nice book haul! 8y
Pruzy @Branwen Thanks!! 8y
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