Michelangelo’s adventure in Constantinople, from the “mesmerizing” (New Yorker) and “masterful” (Washington Post) author of Compass In 1506, Michelangelo—a young but already renowned sculptor—is invited by the sultan of Constantinople to design a bridge over the Golden Horn. The sultan has offered, along with an enormous payment, the promise of immortality, since Leonardo da Vinci’s design was rejected: “You will surpass him in glory if you accept, for you will succeed where he has failed, and you will give the world a monument without equal.” Michelangelo, after some hesitation, flees Rome and an irritated Pope Julius II—whose commission he leaves unfinished—and arrives in Constantinople for this truly epic project. Once there, he explores the beauty and wonder of the Ottoman Empire, sketching and describing his impressions along the way, as he struggles to create what could be his greatest architectural masterwork. Tell Them of Battles, Kings, and Elephants—constructed from real historical fragments—is a thrilling page-turner about why stories are told, why bridges are built, and how seemingly unmatched fragments, seen from the opposite sides of civilization, can mirror one another.

V.1. Report and Appendix A-1. The laws and regulations governing the acquisition of land in Turkey / by Ulku Cengizer.--Appendix A-2. Control of highway access: Experiences in New York / by B.D. Tallamy.--V.2. Appendix B-1. Plan and profile sheets for freeway routes A and B.--V.3. Appendix B-1. Plates showing proposed Bosphorus and Golden Horn Bridges / by J.E. Greiner Company.

From the ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, and Byzantine eras to the Ottoman Empire to the present day, the Bosphorus strait is a storied and scenic region of Turkey. As the crossroads of the country’s European and Asian subsections, it is home to rich culture, incredible people, delicious food, unique architecture, and unmistakable style. Countless creatives have been awed and inspired here, including Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Louboutin, Nicky Haslam, and Cher. Turkish denizens and visitors alike are thrilled by the skyline, a breathtaking view of calming waters and magnificent bridges. But some of the best places to discover the style of the Bosphorus are within the private homes of its welcoming residents, who are always gracious and ready to entertain, and who know just the right balance of old and new to both pay homage to their country’s glorious past and herald its future. These vibrant personalities each have a story to tell, something that tethers them to this enchanted slice of the world. Bosphorus Private, showcasing twenty homes, is the melding of two continents, countless creative influences, and millennia of history.