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The Sultans

Written by: Noel Barber
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Publisher's Summary

This brilliantly readable work of history tells the bizarre story of the Ottoman Empire as seen through the lives of its extravagant and tyrannical sultans. With their absolute power, their love of pomp, and their overwhelming venality and corruption, rarely has a great empire been ruled by such grotesque and awesome figures.

There was Suleiman the Magnificent, who allowed his wife to persuade him to murder his eldest son and his best friend; Murad III, who left 103 children behind him when he died; Mustafa, who was kept in a cage, attended by deaf-mutes, until he ascended to the throne. There were sultans who practiced their archery on living people; sultans who drowned the ladies of their harem by the score; and sultans who gave the reins of empire to their favorite eunuchs.

For 400 years, they fought wars, terrorized their subjects, made Turkey into a great empire, and then allowed her to decline into ostentatious and impotent decay.
©1973 Noel Barber (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
Biographies & Memoirs Ancient
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What listeners say about The Sultans

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Awesome!

Loved it! The best gossip about the past you will ever hear! Fredrick Davidson does an amazing job reading it, grabs your attention and keeps it throughout. Highly recommend!!

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The 'dirt' on the Ottoman Sultans

Content: 4/5. Writing: 3/5 Narration: 5/5

Sex, violence, politics and religion. Family disputes, treachery, fraticide, plotting. My major takeaway was actually about AttaTurk, whom I learned was no Gandhi either.

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Profile Image for Laverdm

Absolutely excellent

The narrator was fantastic and the book was super detailed and well written. I cannot wait to keep learning about the ottomans

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