Empress of the East: How a Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire

Très formel et presque barbant récit de la vie incroyable et intéressante d’une femme extrêmement charismatique. Je ne renonce que rarement mais je n’ai pas terminé ce livre, c’est dire. Il y a d’autres ouvrages bien meilleurs avec les détails et coutumes de la vie dans le harem.

This is a fascinating story of a young girl who wrote her destiny with her wit and intelligence. This must be read by all the girls and those who are interested in the fascinating history of Turkey.

excellent

Empress of the East is not just an account of Hürrem Sultan but also of the Ottoman Empire. An essential read.

​After previously reading a terribly inaccurate book about Sultan Suleiman and Hurrem Sultan—which ridiculously claimed that Hurrem hated Suleiman and that Prince Selim was a firstborn child fathered by a palace guard—finding Empress of the East was a massive relief. ​Unlike those sensationalized, trashy novels full of bizarre, fabricated historical errors, Dr. Leslie Peirce delivers a masterclass in actual history. She uses genuine primary sources and diplomatic records to show the reality of the Ottoman court. The book also does a wonderful job showing the complex, genuine dynamics of the imperial harem and Ottoman succession laws without resorting to cheap, made-up drama. ​If you want real, meticulously researched history instead of lazy, inaccurate fiction, this is the absolute gold standard. Highly recommended!