The Sultans Audiobook By Noel Barber cover art

The Sultans

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The Sultans

By: Noel Barber
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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This brilliantly readable work of history tells the bizarre story of the Ottoman Empire as seen through the lives of its extravagant and tyrannical sultans. With their absolute power, their love of pomp, and their overwhelming venality and corruption, rarely has a great empire been ruled by such grotesque and awesome figures.

There was Suleiman the Magnificent, who allowed his wife to persuade him to murder his eldest son and his best friend; Murad III, who left 103 children behind him when he died; Mustafa, who was kept in a cage, attended by deaf-mutes, until he ascended to the throne. There were sultans who practiced their archery on living people; sultans who drowned the ladies of their harem by the score; and sultans who gave the reins of empire to their favorite eunuchs.

For 400 years, they fought wars, terrorized their subjects, made Turkey into a great empire, and then allowed her to decline into ostentatious and impotent decay.

©1973 Noel Barber (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ancient Politicians Politics & Activism War Ottoman Empire
Fascinating History • Compelling Drama • Smooth Voice • Absorbing Read • Breathtaking Story • Informative Content
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I knew nothing of the ottoman empire, before listening to this book, and was shocked, amazed, and appalled, at the centuries of whimsical autocratic rule that left ordinary subjects in a state of constant, poverty and violence. It is a must read to understand what human organization is capable of.

Fantastic history that will curl your toenails.

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Interesting topic presented in a short narrative manner. I enjoyed getting the history but some may find the level of detail lacking due to the length of the book. Presentation is somewhat dry but mispronunciation is rare.

Good history, shortened for better or worse with a somewhat dry but professional reading

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Really loved it and the narrator was perfect. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the Ottoman Empire.

Excellent

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I found this book often informed me more on the old British perspective of the world than it did the history of Anatolia. The author's perspective is quite insightful - when not racist and misogynistic. It is an enjoyable listen that did give me much food for thought, but do know what you're getting yourself into when starting this one.

Old Pompous Brit

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. The book filled in some important gaps in my knowledge of history, and was hard to put down. The Ottoman empire played an extremely important part in European history, and this book helps one to understand some essential elements: what was behind the terror that the Turks held for Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, why the empire fell apart, what the consequences were of this collapse. Come lurid details are indispensable for understanding.The almost caricatural but alas all too real excesses of the Ottoman sultans and their social-cultural support system is a good point of departure for reflecting on the importance of democracy (which sometimes seems a fallible system) and also on the role of religion in sustaining tyranny.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Frederick Davidson?

Yes. He is not among my favorite readers, however.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Armenians were deliberately killed by the tens of thousands, for the flimsiest of reasons.When a particularly able general, betrayed by his sultan, was finally wounded and captured and treated with great courtesy by his captors.When Attaturk's first paramour hurries to his side upon receiving news of his divorce, only to be refused entrance, and is found dead in the street the next day with a bullet in her.

Any additional comments?

This is one of those audiobooks I could hardly put down, and I will surely listen to it again.

Both entertaining and informative

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A very interesting book about a not so known, but rather big, chapter of European history.

Interesting

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This book was a compelling experience. The history is fascinating and colorful and unfortunately unknown to many of us in the West. The narrator was absolutely perfect for the subject. I agree with many others that one might be put off initially by his presentation but soon will realize that his work is superb. Such an amazing story.

Magnificent

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Well narrated book that could have used quite a bit more research in certain areas where research very much exists (especially on a possible French West Indian Sultana who may have been related to Napoleon III, if she was in fact French, which...eh. for the case of narrative the author assumes that she was and goes from there. Major events are just kinda glossed in a sentence or two, with most of WWI just being something that the Ottomans kinda stumbled through in a paragraph. If you want a history of the Ottoman Empire look elsewhere, but if you want (sometimes murderously so, usually, in fact) zany antics of the sultans (you do, despite the things already pointed out, want exactly that), narrated by a pleasant English-accented voice that is as smooth as a Savile Row suit, this is the book for you.
Does kinda skip around the whole Armenian Genocide thing. Mentions it, blaming Turkey entirely (correctly, too), but if you want a book focusing on the Genocide, try The Black Dog of Fate (a memoir/biography) or something more focused on that horrific subject. Again, this just covers the turbaned heads that ruled the empire that did some very bad things and left behind some very pretty buildings.

Highlights and lows of the Ottomans

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Who are the Ottomans. What are the Ottomans. Who the hell were those guys Lawrence of Arabia was fighting. Well, seat down and listen.

Starting before Christopher Columbus and ending around World War II, a short and painless history of the Ottoman Empire will unfold.

It may take a chapter or two to get accustomed to the reader, Frederick Davidson, but I believe you will come to enjoy the voice.

My only criticism, the author takes for granted knowledge that the reader may not have or has forgotten during the reading.

Beginning Guide to the Ottoman Empire

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