Turkey

Turkey is a transcontinental country connecting the continents of Europe and Asia. The novel’s author, Orhan Pamuk, is Turkish and often writes fiction and nonfiction that examines the tensions between Turkey’s ancient history and its much more recent political developments. The novel occasionally indirectly approaches these ideas, specifically with regards to recent political tensions. Turkey is technically governed by a republic, but government corruption and often authoritarian actions influence the country’s political landscape.

Istanbul

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey. It is also the country’s economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul has a long history of being a sociopolitical important city due to its geographic location. Before being captured by the Ottoman Empire, it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which in itself was the continuation of the Roman Empire in Middle Ages. Cem and his family live in Istanbul, and...