Orhan Pamuk: The White Castle (CS)

Orhan Pamuk's historical-philosophical novel takes place in the colorful world of Ottoman Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV. at the end of the 17th century and tells the allegorical story of the special relationship between a Venetian captive and his master, the Hodji of Istanbul, who are unrecognizably alike. In addition to the novel depiction of life in the multi-ethnic Ottoman metropolis, the novel reflects on the limits of knowledge of foreign culture, the relationship between Europe and Turkey, and the stability of human identity.

Pamuk's novel became a sensation in Turkey and started the wave of the so-called new historical novel.