Last Train to Istanbul: A Novel
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
Flip to back
Flip to front
Last Train to Istanbul: A Novel Paperback – October 8, 2013
See all 12 formats and editions
Hide other formats and editions
| Amazon Price | New from | Used from |
|
MP3 CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
"Please retry"
|
$8.89 | — |
$7.48
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Gift-wrap available.
 If you buy a new print edition of this book (or purchased one in the past), you can buy the Kindle edition for only $0.99 (Save 80%). Print edition purchase must be sold by Amazon. Learn more. |
Start reading Last Train to Istanbul: A Novel on your Kindle in under a minute.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?.
|
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Kulin, a bestselling Turkish author, has penned this brilliant novel using the techniques of historical fiction. Her narrative with numerous characters and a number of subplots is handled deftly … the story is compelling up to the end and deserves a film adaptation. Highly recommended.” – Historical Novel Review
About the Author
One of Turkey’s bestselling and most beloved authors, with more than ten million copies of her books sold, Ayşe Kulin is known for captivating stories about human endurance. In 2011, Forbes Turkey declared her the country’s top-earning author. In addition to penning internationally bestselling novels, she has also worked as a producer, cinematographer, and screenwriter for numerous television shows and films. A mother to four sons, she lives in Istanbul.
More About the Author
One of Turkey's most beloved authors, with more than ten million copies of her books sold, Ayşe Kulin is known for captivating stories about human endurance. In addition to penning internationally bestselling novels, she has also worked as a producer, cinematographer, and screenwriter for numerous television shows and films. Her novel Last Train to Istanbul won the European Council Jewish Community Best Novel Award and has been translated into twenty-three languages.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 69 people found the following review helpful
By
Letta Meinen
VINE VOICE on June 30, 2013
Format: Paperback
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
(
What's this?
)
2 Comments
Sending feedback...
I received this book Last Train to Istanbul from the Vine Program. I picked this book as it stated it was a story from the World War II area a time that I lived through. It also involved inter marriage of a Moslem girl and Jewish boy which was a big event that divided families. This book was written by Ayse Kulin a novel about the difficult time during the War. She is Turkish and it was published in 2002 and translated to English by John Baker in 2006, this book will be available in October 2013. My book was an advance Reader's copy and published by Amazoncrossing.
From the first pages I was engrossed and could not stop reading. There are 434 pages to this paperback book and I enjoyed every page. From the very beginning I was drawn into the lives of the two families in Turkey, the girls Sabiha and Selva were Moslem and Rafo who was Jewish. Sabiha married Macit a Moselm government worker. Selva married Rafo against her parent's wishes and the couple fled to France to start a new life. This was in 1938 the beginning of Hitler's reign over Europe.
The story covers both girls and the life they led during this time. Sabiha missed her sister and tried to keep in touch with her through her husband Macit when he was sent to France on government business. Turkey was trying to stay out of the war and stay neutral and it was a difficult for everyone. When Hitler took over France Selva and Rafo were living in Marseilles in southern France and thought they would be safe. They soon found out they had to be registered as Turkey citizens and became friends with the Turkey Consulate in Marseilles.
Then one day Rafo was picked up by the Gestopo and Selva frantically recruited the help of the Turkey Consulate in both Marseilles and Paris and he was released.Read more ›
From the first pages I was engrossed and could not stop reading. There are 434 pages to this paperback book and I enjoyed every page. From the very beginning I was drawn into the lives of the two families in Turkey, the girls Sabiha and Selva were Moslem and Rafo who was Jewish. Sabiha married Macit a Moselm government worker. Selva married Rafo against her parent's wishes and the couple fled to France to start a new life. This was in 1938 the beginning of Hitler's reign over Europe.
The story covers both girls and the life they led during this time. Sabiha missed her sister and tried to keep in touch with her through her husband Macit when he was sent to France on government business. Turkey was trying to stay out of the war and stay neutral and it was a difficult for everyone. When Hitler took over France Selva and Rafo were living in Marseilles in southern France and thought they would be safe. They soon found out they had to be registered as Turkey citizens and became friends with the Turkey Consulate in Marseilles.
Then one day Rafo was picked up by the Gestopo and Selva frantically recruited the help of the Turkey Consulate in both Marseilles and Paris and he was released.Read more ›
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
35 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By
I LUV Books
on January 7, 2013
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
Ms. Kulin writes very well. She familiarizes the reader with a foreign culture which is definitely very different from life in the US. Once you start reading you do not want to stop until you have finished the book. It kept me awake most of the night, reading of course and, after waking the following morning I continued to the end. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By
Gab
VINE VOICE on September 3, 2013
Format: Paperback
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
(
What's this?
)
Comment
Sending feedback...
"Last Train to Istanbul" is a remarkable work of historical fiction. I never knew the lengths to which the Turkish Embarrassment went to protect not only its own citizens living in France and other countries following the Nazi invasions, but that they provided passports and identification papers for those with parents of the Jewish faith. Those is the story of a couple who met in Istanbul, one the Muslim daughter (Silva) of a high ranking retired government official, and the son (Rafo) of the Jewish family of the court physicians going f back centuries. They are lovers but despite her father's casting her out of her family's life, the couple flees to Frances where they live and have a baby boy they name after Selva's father. Although it was traditional to have baby boys circumcised in both the Muslim and Jewish faiths, they decide that because of the rise of Nazism and the Nazis identifying Jewish men by asking them to drop their trousers, they feared for their baby's life and abandoned tradition. Other important central characters are Sabiha, Selva's beautiful sister, her husband, a diplomat, Macit, and a Turkish Consul in France, Tarik, who was once madly infatuated with Sabiha. There are many other engaging characters, each with his or own complexities.
Along the way we are introduced to numerous other characters, each with his or her own story of desperation and hope. They all come together on a train in a special car marked with the Turkish Crescent and Star and endure a horrendous, endless train journey where there lives become intertwined.
I found well researched the historical aspects garnered by the author both through written files and oral histories to have the ring of authenticity and the tales engrossing. This is a wonderful work of fiction with textured richness and layers of complexity. An altogether engrossing novel.
Along the way we are introduced to numerous other characters, each with his or her own story of desperation and hope. They all come together on a train in a special car marked with the Turkish Crescent and Star and endure a horrendous, endless train journey where there lives become intertwined.
I found well researched the historical aspects garnered by the author both through written files and oral histories to have the ring of authenticity and the tales engrossing. This is a wonderful work of fiction with textured richness and layers of complexity. An altogether engrossing novel.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By
Joanna Daneman
#1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on September 24, 2013
Format: Paperback
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
(
What's this?
)
Comment
Sending feedback...
Kulin won the Best Cinematographer Award from the Theatre Writers association for her work in Turkish television and has been chosen as the "Writer of the year" by the Ýstanbul Communication Faculty. She tends to write biographical novels, blending what could be a true biography in novelized form. This is the story of a Muslim woman who marries a Jewish doctor and moves to Paris right before World War II. Naturally, she is in danger as the Nazis invade France. Turkish diplomats struggle to find a way to get them out of France along with some other Turkish ex-pats.
I found the dialog a bit difficult; did this book lose something in translation? Turkish is a very different language; perhaps its sonorities and style doesn't merge well into English. However, this is still an exciting story that reads more like a memoir than a novel.
I found the dialog a bit difficult; did this book lose something in translation? Turkish is a very different language; perhaps its sonorities and style doesn't merge well into English. However, this is still an exciting story that reads more like a memoir than a novel.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By
B. Mercankaya
on January 12, 2009
Format: Paperback
Comment
Sending feedback...
Ayse Kulin has done a marvelous job in combining historical facts with strong feelings of people who pursuit freedom and love. I highly recommend this book..Very easy and enjoyable reading
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
RMPartin
on October 28, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
Comment
Sending feedback...
As a reader of historical novels, this book popped up as a recommendation on my Kindle. I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. I received a new perspective and respect for the Turkish people. I enjoyed learning about Turkish family values and the value placed on all people. Each of the stories was captivating. I also learned more about the plight of people during the Second World War. The author did an excellent job bringing all of these lives together in a heartfelt way.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
