English translation reprinted from bilingual ed., originally published by: Ann Arbor: Dept. of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, 1975.
From the fifteenth to the sixteenth century, the janissaries were the scourge of Europe. With their martial music, their muskets and their drilled march, it seemed that no one could withstand them. Their loyalty to their corps was infinite as the Ottomans conquered the Balkans as far as the Danube, and Syria, Egypt and Iraq. They set up semi-independent states along the North African coast and even fought at sea. Their political power was such that even sultans trembled. Who were they? Why were they an elite? Why did they decline and what was their end? These are some of the questions which this book attempts to answer. It is the story of extraordinary personalities in both victory and defeat. 'An incredible book ... a tour de force' Middle East International 'Well written and lucid.' Muslim World Books Review 'Goodwin has done so much in his scholarly career to introduce a wide audience to Ottoman culture.' Financial Times
It is the late 14th Century. The young Ottoman Empire is on the rise. The Sultan's secret weapons are his elite Janissary soldier-slaves: Christian boys taken from their families, forcibly converted to Islam, and conscripted into a lifetime of military service to the Empire. Confessions of a Janissary is the epic journey of a boy who will become a man, a slave who will become a legend, a sworn celibate searching for his long-lost love, and a wandering sheep in need of a worthy shepherd. Originally released on Amazon's Kindle Vella serialized fiction platform in July 2021, Confessions of a Janissary has received the following accolades: #67 Overall "Top Faved" among thousands of Kindle Vella stories "Top Faved" among Historical Fiction stories "Top Faved" among Action & Adventure stories "Confessions of a Janissary was an absolutely excellent read. Companionship, adventure, massive battles, military training, drama, medieval themes, romance, politics, suspense, faith, just to name a few--it was all there. The author is a skilled writer and the adventures of Mirko and his companions leave a constant desire to continue reading. I just kept reading the book, couldn't put it down, and was able to do some reflection. The author has an uncanny way of immersing you in the environment of the 14th Century yet simultaneously making it extremely personally relatable. This book is both an intense, fun, and reflective read. I can only hope a sequel is written." - Amazon Review
Arthur George Morrison (1 November 1863 - 4 December 1945) was an English writer and journalist known for his realistic novels and stories about working-class life in London's East End, and for his detective stories, featuring the detective Martin Hewitt. This is one of those stories
The Janissaries comprised an élite corps in the service of the Ottoman Empire. It was composed of war captives and Christian youths pressed into service; all of whom were converted to Islam and trained under the strictest discipline. In many ways, Jannisaries reflected Ottoman society, which was itself dominated by a military elite and where there was much greater social mobility than in Europe. On top of this, the Turks looked upon Europe much as the early Americans viewed the Western Frontier – as a land of adventure, mission and opportunity. David Nicolle examines the history, organisation, weapons and uniforms of these élite Turkish troops.
Conflict abounds in this epic novel of the long, fierce war for independence fought by the Greeks against the Ottoman Turkish Empire, set in 1821 to 1829. Two young teenage boys join the Greek Freedom Fighters to avenge the murder of their parents by the Turks. Story set in the rugged mountains of the Peloponnese region of southern Greece.
An American housewife's husband is offered a position in Japan to work on a multinational project. After much sole-searching they accept and their lives are never the same. Living in the countryside in housing specifically designed for Westerners, surrounded with friendly Japanese neighbors, and with families from The European Union, Canada, Russia and The United States, the Hagers endure. Life in Japan was a challenge: learning to drive on the left side of the road, decipher the labels on cans in the grocery stores, to name a few, but with the help of eager Japanese and their Western neighbors they thrive.
Evliya Celebi was the Orhan Pamuk of the 17th century, the Pepys of the Ottoman world - a diligent, adventurous and honest recorder with a puckish wit and humour. He is in the pantheon of the great travel-writers of the world, though virtually unknown to western readers. This translation brings his sparkling work to life.
The Ottoman lands, which extended from modern Hungary to the Arabian peninsula, were home to a vast population with a rich variety of cultures. The Ottoman World is the first primary source reader to bring a wide and diverse set of voices across Ottoman society into the classroom. Written in many languages—not only Ottoman Turkish but also Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, and Persian—these texts, here translated, span the extent of the early modern Ottoman empire, from the 1450s to 1700. Instructors are supplied with narratives conveying the lived experiences of individuals through texts that highlight human variety and accelerate a trend away from a state-centric approach to Ottoman history. In addition, samples from court registers, legends, biographical accounts, hagiographies, short stories, witty anecdotes, jokes, and lampoons provide exciting glimpses into popular mindsets in Ottoman society. By reflecting new directions in the scholarship with an innovative choice of texts, this collection provides a vital resource for teachers and students.