[Prepared by] H.I.H. Prince Osman Selaheddin
The memoirs of H.I.H. Prince Ali Vâsib offer a comprehensive overview of the life and times of the Ottoman Imperial family, during the last years of the Ottoman Sultanate and the enforced exile the prince has spent in various countries. Prepared by H.I.H. Prince Osman Selaheddin, they delight the reader with a piece of history never to be forgotten. The book begins with a wonderful dedication written by the author’s granddaughter, H.I.H. Princess Ayșe Gülnev (Osmanoğlu). She also speaks of the historical background related to the rise and growth of the Ottoman Empire, her creative writing shining brilliantly on the page. I had the privilege of reading her book, “The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus” and I was excited to discover more about her family and the prince in particular.
My opinion:
This was an exceptional read, one which I took my time to savor and explore. Every section of the book has been prepared with care and attention to detail, including the translator’s note, which offers valuable information to the reader. It was interesting to discover how some of the Turkish words are pronounced and I had the pleasure to find out that many of them are still used in my native language, Romanian. Turks and Romanians have had their clashes during history, and my hometown, Braila, was once under Turkish occupation.
The book begins with some of the reasons for which the prince has desired to write his memoirs. We are introduced to facts about the Ottoman Dynasty and the protocol regarding the throne accession. There are a lot of interesting details on the titles and forms of address, the intricacies of marriage, and the various ceremonies that took place throughout time. I love reading about other cultures and their customs, including when it comes to the clothes worn or the food eaten. The prince was born in the Ciragan Palace, on the shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. He lived through the First World War, the abolition of the Sultanate, and the Period of the Caliphate. The years spent in exile – Hungary, France, and Egypt – were filled with challenges but also good times.
From what I have read, he is the only Ottoman Imperial Prince to have written his memoirs. I also saw it as an interesting fact that, as the great-grandson of Sultan Murad V, he was at various points in the presence of the last four Ottoman Sultans, as well as the last Caliph. Throughout his life, he met many important people, witnessed key events of the Ottoman history. He was disappointed by the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy, which had a traumatic effect. I loved the photos and illustrations sprinkled throughout the book, especially the Egypt album. There are also photos of the prince’s descendants and details on state visits, letters, wedding menus, party invitations, etc.
Verdict:
What a beautiful, detailed book! I savored every bit, enjoying the wealth of information about the Ottoman Prince and his family. If you are passionate about Turkish history and the Ottoman Dynasty in particular, this is one of the best books to read. There are many historic events worth exploring in the book, as well as details about the prince’s personal life, which make the whole reading experience even more worthwhile. A gem of a book, one which I am proud to hold in my home library.
Book Link (Memoirs of an Ottoman Prince): https://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Ottoman-Prince-Ali-VASIB/dp/6050812403/
Book Link (The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus): https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Cage-Bosphorus-Ottomans-Family/dp/1916361404/
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