The Bosphorus
A Journey
An evocative portrait of a waterway like no other—a strait that rose from myth and mystery to become the hub of the Ottoman Empire.
Description
At the heart of Istanbul, separating its European and Asian shores, lies the Bosphorus. One of the world’s greatest waterways, its spectacular landscape has been extolled by writers, from Lord Byron to Virginia Woolf.
It was home to the Sultan and his entourage throughout the nineteenth century—and, indeed, to anybody who was anybody. But when Turkey’s young Republic chose Ankara as its capital in 1923, silence fell over the Bosphorus’s palaces and mansions, their once powerful residents forced into exile. Amid such upheaval, its banks were resettled, with industry and modern housing elbowing out the greenery. Today’s Bosphorus is reinventing itself again, as waterside mansions are rebuilt and crumbling industrial heritage is repurposed for tourism.
Pat Yale tells the thrilling story of the Bosphorus—one of rulers and nobles, pilgrims and saints, but also of labourers, fishermen and boatmen. Above all, this is a story of water. What better way to explore it than from the decks of its many ferries?
Table of contents
Introduction
Chapter One: Karaköy (Peninsula Hotel)
Chapter Two: Üsküdar (Frezya Women’s Hotel Veni, Vidi, Dormi)
Chapter Three: Kuzguncuk (Kuzguncuk View Hotel)
Chapter Four: Tophane
Chapter Five: Dolmabahçe-Beşiktaş (Four Seasons Bosphorus)
Chapter Six: Çırağan-Yıldız (Çırağan Palace Hotel)
Chapter Seven: Ortaköy (The Stay hotel)
Chapter Eight: Çengelköy (Sumahan-on-the-Water hotel)
Chapter Nine: Kuruçeşme-Arnavutköy
Chapter Ten: Bebek-Rumeli Hisarı (Bebek Hotel)
Chapter Eleven: Vaniköy-Kandilli (Hayreddin Paşa Yalı)
Chapter Twelve: Anadolu Hisarı (Öğretmen Evi)
Chapter Thirteen: Emirgan
Chapter Fourteen: Kanlıca
Chapter Fifteen: Çubuklu
Chapter Sixteen: Paşabahçe
Chapter Seventeen: Yeniköy (İstinye Korfez Hotel)
Chapter Eighteen: Tarabya and Büyükdere (Grand Tarabya Hotel, Fuatpaşa Hotel)
Chapter Nineteen: Beykoz
Chapter Twenty: Sarıyer
Chapter Twenty-One: Rumeli Kavaği, Garipçe and Rumeli Feneri
Chapter Twenty-Two: Anadolu Kavağı, Poyrazköy and Anadolu Feneri
Conclusion
Reviews
‘An indispensable guide to one of the most beguiling waterways on earth. It is also so much more: a lively history of Istanbul, a perceptive record of the Bosphorus’s geopolitical significance and the memoir of a long-time Turkey resident whose love for the country pulses on every page. My first piece of advice for anyone sightseeing in Istanbul is “take as many ferries on the Bosphorus as possible.” Now I will say, “And take Pat Yale’s book with you.”’ — Suzy Hansen, author of From Life Itself: Turkey, Istanbul, and a Neighborhood in the Age of Erdoğan
‘With stories that flow as effortlessly as the Bosporus itself, Pat Yale unlocks for readers the culture, history and lives of those who call this majestic strait home. It is a journey to be savoured by natives and newcomers alike.’ — Thomas F. Madden, author of Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World
Author(s)
Educated at the University of Cambridge, Pat Yale worked in the travel industry before becoming a guidebook writer specialising in Turkey. After moving to Cappadocia to restore a cave house, she now lives in Istanbul. Her books include Following Miss Bell: Travels Around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Bosphorus" about?
At the heart of Istanbul, separating its European and Asian shores, lies the Bosphorus. One of the world’s greatest waterways, its spectacular landscape has been extolled by writers, from Lord Byron to Virginia Woolf.
It was home to the Sultan and his entourage throughout the nineteenth century—and, indeed, to anybody who was anybody. But when Turkey’s young Republic chose Ankara as its capital in 1923, silence fell over the Bosphorus’s palaces and mansions, their once powerful residents forced into exile. Amid such upheaval, its banks were resettled, with industry and modern housing elbowing out the greenery. Today’s Bosphorus is reinventing itself again, as waterside mansions are rebuilt and crumbling industrial heritage is repurposed for tourism.
Pat Yale tells the thrilling story of the Bosphorus—one of rulers and nobles, pilgrims and saints, but also of labourers, fishermen and boatmen. Above all, this is a story of water. What better way to explore it than from the decks of its many ferries?
Who wrote "The Bosphorus"?
"The Bosphorus" was written by Pat Yale.
Educated at the University of Cambridge, Pat Yale worked in the travel industry before becoming a guidebook writer specialising in Turkey. After moving to Cappadocia to restore a cave house, she now lives in Istanbul. Her books include Following Miss Bell: Travels Around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell.
What is the Table of Contents for "The Bosphorus"?
Introduction
Chapter One: Karaköy (Peninsula Hotel)
Chapter Two: Üsküdar (Frezya Women's Hotel Veni, Vidi, Dormi)
Chapter Three: Kuzguncuk (Kuzguncuk View Hotel)
Chapter Four: Tophane
Chapter Five: Dolmabahçe-Beşiktaş (Four Seasons Bosphorus)
Chapter Six: Çırağan-Yıldız (Çırağan Palace Hotel)
Chapter Seven: Ortaköy (The Stay hotel)
Chapter Eight: Çengelköy (Sumahan-on-the-Water hotel)
Chapter Nine: Kuruçeşme-Arnavutköy
Chapter Ten: Bebek-Rumeli Hisarı (Bebek Hotel)
Chapter Eleven: Vaniköy-Kandilli (Hayreddin Paşa Yalı)
Chapter Twelve: Anadolu Hisarı (Öğretmen Evi)
Chapter Thirteen: Emirgan
Chapter Fourteen: Kanlıca
Chapter Fifteen: Çubuklu
Chapter Sixteen: Paşabahçe
Chapter Seventeen: Yeniköy (İstinye Korfez Hotel)
Chapter Eighteen: Tarabya and Büyükdere (Grand Tarabya Hotel, Fuatpaşa Hotel)
Chapter Nineteen: Beykoz
Chapter Twenty: Sarıyer
Chapter Twenty-One: Rumeli Kavaği, Garipçe and Rumeli Feneri
Chapter Twenty-Two: Anadolu Kavağı, Poyrazköy and Anadolu Feneri
Conclusion
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