Istanbul

This memoir by Orhan Pamuk combines his personal life story with the history and culture of Istanbul.

It delves into the city's transition from a glorious empire to a modern, secular society, highlighting the collective melancholy known as 'huzun' that pervades the city.

The book includes descriptions of the Bosphorus, the decline of old traditions, and the author's own coming-of-age story.

It is interspersed with black and white photographs that add to the wistful tone of the narrative.