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An empire crumbles: Nights of Plague, by Orhan Pamuk, reviewed

24 September 2022

9:00 AM

24 September 2022

9:00 AM

Nights of Plague Orhan Pamuk, translated by Ekin Oklap

Faber, pp.704, 20

Welcome to Mingheria, ‘pearl of the Levant’. On a spring day, as the 20th century dawns, you disembark at this ‘calm and charming island’ south of Rhodes from a comfortable steamer after sailing from Smyrna, Piraeus or Alexandria. A crew of Greek or Muslim boatmen will row you to the picturesque harbour of Arkaz, flanked by the radiant White Mountain and the gloomy turrets of the medieval castle.

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