The Ottomans

Reviews / Votes

A wildly ambitious and entertainingly lurid history -- James Barr, The Times Highly readable . . . Baer's fine book gives a panoramic and thought-provoking account of over half a millennium of Ottoman and - it now goes without saying - European history -- Guardian A winning portrait of seven centuries of empire, teeming with life and colour, human interest and oddity, cruelty and oppression mixed with pleasure, benevolence and great artistic beauty -- Sunday Times A book as sweeping, colorful, and rich in extraordinary characters as the empire which it describes -- Tom Holland, author of Dominion A compellingly readable account of one of the great world empires from its origins in thirteenth century to modern times ... Blending the sacred and the profane, the social and the political, the sublime and the absurd, Baer brings his subject to life in rich vignettes. An outstanding book -- Eugene Rogan, author of The Fall of the Ottomans Marc David Baer's The Ottomans is a scintillating and brilliantly panoramic account of the history of the Ottoman empire, from its genesis to its dissolution ... It challenges and transforms how we think of 'East' and 'West,' 'Enlightenment,' and 'modernity,' and directly confronts the horrors as well as the achievements of Ottoman rule -- Peter Sarris, University of Cambridge Baer's colourful, readable book is informed by all the newest research on his massive subject. In showing how an epic of universal empire, conquest and toleration turned into the drama of nationalism, crisis, and genocide, he gives us not only an expansive history of the Ottomans, but an expanded history of Europe. -- James McDougall, University of Oxford Expertly captures the undercurrents of Ottoman history ... There's no study more masterful -- Library Journal A superb, gripping and refreshing new history - finely written and filled with fascinating characters and analysis - that places the dynasty where it belongs: at the centre of European history -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Romanovs and Jerusalem A thrilling history of one of the world's largest empires -- All About History Provocative and engaging, this book is a refreshing new study of the Ottoman Empire and its legacy . . . Populated by vivid characters and descriptions of events this book is well-paced, rich and beautifully executed. Essential reading not only for those interested in the history of the Middle East, but also for those interested more broadly in the history of Europe, the history of Empire and the politics of genocide -- Katherine Pangonis An epic, sweeping history of the Ottoman Empire . . . It's absolutely fabulous -- Alex Churchill, History Hack podcast [Baer's] enlightening forays into the side alleys of Ottoman history make this book very enjoyable . . . splendid -- Literary Review Forceful history -- New Yorker A fuller, fresher view of the dynasty that ruled an empire for 500 years and helped shape the West . . . A major achievement -- Anthony Sattin, Spectator Magnificent . . . Like a swift Ottoman caique cutting through the Sweet Waters of Asia, Baer's taut prose splices stereotypes and makes us think twice about long-held assumptions . . . [An] important and hugely readable book - a model of well-written, accessible scholarship -- William Dalrymple, Financial Times [A] fascinating, thought-provoking book that wears its learning lightly. It asks us not only to rethink the Ottomans, but also to consider what exactly constitutes being European. -- Roger Crowley, Aspects of History Baer's portrait teems with life and colour -- The Sunday Times