Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Brilliantly edited and introduced by Giancarlo Casale. . . . Osman’s eye-opening reflections on the dilemmas of difference and identity make this a story curiously of our time." * Times Literary Supplement *
"An excellent, lively English translation by Giancarlo Casale." * The Times *
"Elegantly presented and scrupulously edited by Casale. . . . The reader should undertake this trip into time and place with Osman for both his exploits and his learning." * Middle East Quarterly *
"Readers will enjoy the combination of Casale’s erudition and Osman Ağa’s straightforward but exciting story."
* Asian Review of Books *
"With an intimacy that recalls Ibn Battuta…Prisoner of the Infidels provides a useful and entertaining window into 17th-century Europe and the Ottoman-Habsburg wars. This memoir reveals a depth, nuance, and grittiness that standard historical accounts cannot hope to convey. It centers the human experience, covering everything from mosquito bites to separations from, and reunions with, family." * Reading Religion *
"Besides being a splendidly enjoyable read,
The Prisoner of the Infidels is also a valuable resource for both academic research and teaching." * Critical Inquiry *
Table of ContentsList of Maps
Acknowledgments xi
A Note on Transcription from Ottoman Turkish
A Note on the Translation
Introduction: On Being Osman
1. Surrender
2. Ransom
3. Crime and Punishment
4. Death and Resurrection
5. Respite
6. Bonds of Love
7. To the Capital
8. A Friend in Need
9. An Unexpected Turn of Events
10. Into the Lion's Den
11. Grifters
12. To the Border
13. The End
Appendix: The Main Characters in Osman's Narrative
Notes
Index of People
Index of Places
