The Divan of Istanbul tells ten centuries of Ottoman history in a lively paperback by Alessandro Barbero.
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Get to grips with ten centuries of Ottoman history in one small volume with the book The Divan of Istanbul. The Italian historian Alessandro Barbero tells the story of the Ottoman Empire, from the Seljuks in the 11th century to Mustafa Kemal in the 20th. This short history of the Ottoman Empire offers a lively narrative, far from the clichés.
The text follows the great sultans, such as Mehmed the Conqueror and Suleiman the Magnificent. It also explains the “divan”, the council that ran the empire, and the place of Christians and Jews alongside Islam. The book The Divan of Istanbul reads like a story, with a fresh look at an empire that stretched from Algiers to Baghdad.
It is a paperback pocket format measuring 10.9 x 17 cm, light enough to slip into a bag. It is published by Payot, in a translation by Sophie Bajard. The book The Divan of Istanbul suits a reader who is new to the subject and is looking for a good book on the Ottoman Empire to start with.
Review written by the Air d’Orient team · Updated on 19 September 2026
We read the feedback from buyers of the book The Divan of Istanbul to pick out what comes up most often, both the good and the less good.
Where we lean: for discovering the Ottoman Empire without getting lost, this is a simple and enjoyable choice. For a broader study, the History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard, shown below, goes further. For more books on the region’s past, browse our history of the Orient section.
The history of the Ottoman Empire can be read from several publishers. Here is how the book The Divan of Istanbul compares with three other much-requested titles.
| Book | Publisher | Subject | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Divan of Istanbul Alessandro Barbero · this book |
Payot | Ten Ottoman centuries | Beginners |
| History of the Ottoman Empire Fayard |
Fayard | The whole empire | Going deeper |
| Why the Ottoman Empire? Folio |
Folio | Six centuries of history | Pocket reading |
| The Ottoman Empire and Europe Tempus Perrin |
Tempus Perrin | Empire and Europe | Relations with Europe |
The History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard aims at an overview of the whole empire. Its title promises a complete history rather than a survey. The Divan of Istanbul is shorter and simpler for a first read.
The book Why the Ottoman Empire? covers six centuries of history in the Folio format. It starts from a question rather than a continuous narrative. Barbero’s account covers a wider period, right up to the 20th century.
The Ottoman Empire and Europe focuses on the links between the empire and Europe, from the 14th to the 20th century. It will interest those who want a specific angle. For a broad and lively view, The Divan of Istanbul is more accessible.
Alessandro Barbero is a historian and he writes for the general public. The book tells a story more than it analyses, with a fairly favourable view of the Ottomans. It is a good way in before moving on to longer works.
The Divan of Istanbul is well suited to a first encounter with the subject. It is short, written as a narrative and follows the great sultans. It is aimed at teenage or adult readers.
The Divan of Istanbul is a short, lively paperback for beginners. The History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard aims at a broader overview. The first opens the door, the second lets you go further.
Find more books on the empires of the East in our history of the Orient section.
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| Author | Alessandro Barbero |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Payot |
| Size | Paperback |
| Language | French |
| Collections | Find this product in our collections: |
The history of the Ottoman Empire can be read from several publishers. Here is how the book The Divan of Istanbul compares with three other much-requested titles.
| Book | Publisher | Subject | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Divan of Istanbul Alessandro Barbero · this book |
Payot | Ten Ottoman centuries | Beginners |
| History of the Ottoman Empire Fayard |
Fayard | The whole empire | Going deeper |
| Why the Ottoman Empire? Folio |
Folio | Six centuries of history | Pocket reading |
| The Ottoman Empire and Europe Tempus Perrin |
Tempus Perrin | Empire and Europe | Relations with Europe |
The History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard aims at an overview of the whole empire. Its title promises a complete history rather than a survey. The Divan of Istanbul is shorter and simpler for a first read.
The book Why the Ottoman Empire? covers six centuries of history in the Folio format. It starts from a question rather than a continuous narrative. Barbero’s account covers a wider period, right up to the 20th century.
The Ottoman Empire and Europe focuses on the links between the empire and Europe, from the 14th to the 20th century. It will interest those who want a specific angle. For a broad and lively view, The Divan of Istanbul is more accessible.
Review written by the Air d’Orient team · Updated on 19 September 2026
We read the feedback from buyers of the book The Divan of Istanbul to pick out what comes up most often, both the good and the less good.
Where we lean: for discovering the Ottoman Empire without getting lost, this is a simple and enjoyable choice. For a broader study, the History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard, shown below, goes further. For more books on the region’s past, browse our history of the Orient section.
Alessandro Barbero is a historian and he writes for the general public. The book tells a story more than it analyses, with a fairly favourable view of the Ottomans. It is a good way in before moving on to longer works.
The Divan of Istanbul is well suited to a first encounter with the subject. It is short, written as a narrative and follows the great sultans. It is aimed at teenage or adult readers.
The Divan of Istanbul is a short, lively paperback for beginners. The History of the Ottoman Empire from Fayard aims at a broader overview. The first opens the door, the second lets you go further.
Find more books on the empires of the East in our history of the Orient section.
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