Last Train to Istanbul: A Novel

by Ayse Kulin, John W. Baker (Translator)

Overview

An international bestseller by one of Turkey’s most beloved authors.

As the daughter of one of Turkey’s last Ottoman pashas, Selva could win the heart of any man in Ankara. Yet the spirited young beauty only has eyes for Rafael Alfandari, the handsome Jewish son of an esteemed court physician. In defiance of their families, they marry, fleeing to Paris to build a new life.

But when the Nazis invade France and begin rounding up Jews, the exiled lovers will learn that nothing—not war, not politics, not even religion—can break the bonds of family. For after they learn that Selva is but one of their fellow citizens trapped in France, a handful of brave Turkish diplomats hatch a plan to spirit the Alfandaris and hundreds of innocents, many of whom are Jewish, to safety. Together, they must traverse a war-torn continent, crossing enemy lines and risking everything in a desperate bid for freedom. From Ankara to Paris, Cairo, and Berlin, Last Train to Istanbul is an uplifting tale of love and adventure from Turkey’s beloved bestselling novelist Ayşe Kulin.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781477807613
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	10/08/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	396
Sales rank:	524,489
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)

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 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. Last Train to Istanbul, winner of the European Council Jewish Community Best Novel Award and the Premio Roma in Italy, has been translated into twenty-three languages.

Editorial Reviews

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

“Ayse Kulin is a clever writer. She draws the reader into the story of the life and loves of a Turkish family in wartime and by the time the reader realizes that she has also cranked up the tension with a rescue plot, it is too late to put the book down unfinished. For aficionados of wartime novels as well as for anyone glued to his or her seat watching the film Argo, this is a must-read.” —Helen Bryan, bestselling author of War Brides and The Sisterhood 

From the Publisher

Set in Turkey against the backdrop of an expanding Nazi empire, this tense drama unfolds as a sister is exiled from her family. Narrator Sanjiv Jhaveri is an excellent choice for this novel, though it is dominated by female characters. He manages to modulate his voice without making it shrill; the overall effect is believable. Jhaveri's pronunciation of Turkish words and names is excellent and doesn’t disrupt the building suspense. This drama of the severe consequences that can arise from one’s actions is brought to life through Jhaveri's rapid delivery and even cadence. M.R. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2013 - AudioFile