The complete critical edition of two important texts, Tezkiretüʼl-bünyan and Tezkiretüʼl-ebniye, based on Sinan's own accounts of his life and works. The text is accompanied by scores of full color photographs of Sinan's monuments, miniatures illustrating his works, and facsimiles of the original scripts.

"Goodwin shows the importance of the architect's long years in the army and his experience with bridges, seige-works, fortifications, and the behaviour of stone and masonry before he was appointed Royal Architect in 1538. Goodwin bases his analysis on a detailed comparative study of certain of Sinan's buildings, the supreme example being the imaginative leap represetned by the mosque of Selim II at Edirne, second capital of the Ottoman empire. The text is illustrated by photographs, plans and elevations of many of Sinan's works ranging from the grandiose Sü̈lyeymaniye complex in Instanbul to the experimental Kiliç Ali Pasha mosque. Of outstanding interest are the plates by the 19th century German architect Gurlitt, many of which show features before later restoration".--BOOKJACKET.

A colorful, magical tale set during the height of the Ottoman Empire, from the acclaimed author of The Island of Missing Trees (a Reese's Book Club Pick) Chosen for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall’s “Reading Room” Book Club In this novel, Turkey’s preeminent female writer spins an epic tale spanning nearly a century in the life of the Ottoman Empire. In 1540, twelve-year-old Jahan arrives in Istanbul. As an animal tamer in the sultan’s menagerie, he looks after the exceptionally smart elephant Chota and befriends (and falls for) the sultan’s beautiful daughter, Princess Mihrimah. A palace education leads Jahan to Mimar Sinan, the empire’s chief architect, who takes Jahan under his wing as they construct (with Chota’s help) some of the most magnificent buildings in history. Yet even as they build Sinan’s triumphant masterpieces—the incredible Suleymaniye and Selimiye mosques—dangerous undercurrents begin to emerge, with jealousy erupting among Sinan’s four apprentices. A memorable story of artistic freedom, creativity, and the clash between science and fundamentalism, Shafak’s intricate novel brims with vibrant characters, intriguing adventure, and the lavish backdrop of the Ottoman court, where love and loyalty are no match for raw power.

A major assessment of the works of celebrated Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan (1489-1588). Presents a cultural and social history of Ottoman architecture in the early modern eastern Mediterranean world.