This book by Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk is an intriguing book. It describes the conflicts faced by artists, the loyalty he has to show to the King and his religion. Originally written in Turkish and and set in Istanbul, the book has a different narrator for each chapter. The Sultan intrigued by the Venetian style of painting for the sake of mimicking reality, commissions a Master Illuminator to create a book that in the same style which borders on blasphemy according to Islamic thought. The artists though show no signs of a conscience because of the money they stand to make. Until one of them is murdered and it slowly becomes clear that one of their brethren is the murderer. The Master is also soon killed and his nephew who is charged with solving the crime and completing the book finds himself in love with the widowed daughter of the Master.

Pamuk demonstrates the conflicts Turkey faced then as it does now. To look East or West? That is the running theme of this fantastic book.

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