Dursun Gürlerk, one of the most well-known cultural historians in Turkey, provides us with fascinating insights into Turkish history. In this beautifully crafted study, Gurlek tells the reader about conversations at the Ottoman Palaces and old Istanbul houses, reveals how St. Hagia Sophia was saved from collapse, examines the foreign policies of Abdulhamit II, and discusses Ottoman art and culture. This book is for those who are curious about Turkey during Ottoman times.