Istanbul

A Tale of Three Cities

By: Bettany Hughes

Narrated by: Bettany Hughes

Istanbul has long been a place where stories and histories collide, where perception is as potent as fact.

From the Koran to Shakespeare, this city with three names--Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul -- resonates as an idea and a place, real and imagined. Standing as the gateway between East and West, North and South, it has been the capital city of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. For much of its history it was the very center of the world, known simply as "The City," but, as Bettany Hughes reveals, Istanbul is not just a city, but a global story.

In this epic new biography, Hughes takes us on a dazzling historical journey from the Neolithic to the present, through the many incarnations of one of the world's greatest cities--exploring the ways that Istanbul's influence has spun out to shape the wider world. Hughes investigates what it takes to make a city and tells the story not just of emperors, viziers, caliphs, and sultans, but of the poor and the voiceless, of the women and men whose aspirations and dreams have continuously reinvented Istanbul.

Written with energy and animation, award-winning historian Bettany Hughes deftly guides readers through Istanbul's rich layers of history. Based on meticulous research and new archaeological evidence, this captivating portrait of the momentous life of Istanbul is visceral, immediate, and authoritative -- narrative history at its finest.

Critic reviews

"Groundbreaking...a colossal undertaking...a notable achievement"--Roger Crowley, bestselling author of 1453

"Impressive. In Istanbul, Hughes plays intriguing, sophisticated games with time and space.... By making unlikely connections between well-described locations and events separated by eons, she gives voice to those witchy, diachronic feelings in a spectacular fashion."--The Economist

"Richly entertaining and impeccably researched. Hughes's ebullient book is an ode to three incarnations of the city."--Peter Frankopan, author of the international bestseller The Silk Roads

"Brimming with brio and incident...life-filled and life-affirming history, steeped in romance and written with verve"--Justin Marozzi, award-winning author of Baghdad

"Mesmerizing... Weaves research and insight with understanding and love: here is a book written as much with the heart as the mind."--Elif Shafak, award-winning author of The Bastard of Istanbul

"Shows readers how a prehistoric settlement evolved through the centuries into a great metropolis, the crossroads where East meets West."—New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)

"Curiously gripping...[Hughes] establishes just how deep the Greek roots of the settlement called Byzantion went...She has a fine feel for the complexities and shadings of that distant past...Hughes's tone is both scholarly and rich in visual detail...Show[s] how intricate and improbable Istanbul's history has been."—New York Times Book Review

"[A] marvelous new book...[by] one of Britain's most successful television historians...[An] ambitious enterprise...Vivid and readable prose...[A] wonderful evocation of Istanbul's glittering past."

—Wall Street Journal

"Hughes is not an argumentative historian. She avoids the debates of academe. She is a wistful and impassioned cosmopolitan who has produced a challenging story."—Financial Times

"A deeply researched biography of a legendary city...A panoramic cultural history of a fascinating place."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Packs the story of its three iterations-Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul-into one volume, from its earliest settlement in 6000 BC, to the 20th century. Though it sweeps across eight millennia, this glinting mosaic of a book is divided up into short episodic tesserae that evoke vivid aspects of the city's history and demonstrate the long reach of it influence."

—The Bookseller

"A vibrant, sprawling portrait of a city as enigmatic as it is historically important...Hughes' entertaining narrative style with its visual details, dramatic archaeological discoveries, and cliffhanger chapter endings allows her erudition and exuberance to shine."
—Booklist (starred review)

An epic history, researched in depth, narrated by the captivating author.

I was awed & fascinated by the depth and
breadth of history, dramatically presented by the author, beginning from the 5th century BC through to the 21st century.

Fascinating! You'll definitely want to visit

Never heard an audiobook that spans such a huge timespan on one city. The author sells

loooong book but worth it

This is the longest audiobook that I’ve listened to. Took me more than a year on and off, almost abandoned it several times. It takes patience but pays off. The history of Istanbul is so rich and complicated that it deserves the time to unfold. The author has a way of telling stories and a fresh viewpoint. I will be listening to her other books.

Fascinating story

I like that it covered the whole history of the city. Am learning a great deal. However, I find the narration difficult - her voice is at a pitch that is hard for me hear clearly, and frankly somewhat monotonous. I may have to switch to reading the book and start again.

A daunting undertaking pulled off superlatively

Would you listen to Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities again? Why?

Yes. There is just so much there, and it is so well done. It wld serve as an excellent guide toward digging deeper into a particular topic, era, personage etc....

Who was your favorite character and why?

I am a huge fan of Justinian, Theodora, Alcebiaties and Harold Hadrada. All make appearances.

Which character – as performed by Bettany Hughes – was your favorite?

It is history and she performs no characters per se, but her narration is excellent.

Any additional comments?

This is a huge undertaking. And is achieved with style. This book wld serve this historian, the history buff and the layperson with equal excellence. But particularly the layperson and the (somewhat) educated consumer. The narrative is chronological, the tangents limited but extremely relevant and the author's passion for the topic comes through in her narration. The City is really at the epicenter of major historical events in both Western and Eastern civilization. With amazing characters and tales that the most imaginative fiction writers could not have made up, this is an epic story. And extremely well told. I have been an Audible listener practically since inception. This is the first review I have ever written. That is the best compliment I can offer for this book, story and performance.