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The Aviary Gate #1
The Aviary Gate
Constantinople, 1599. Paul Pindar, a secretary to the English ambassador, thinks he has lost his lovee, Celia, in a shipwreck. Now, two years later, clues begin to emerge that she may be hidden among the ranks of the slaves in the Sultan's harem. But how can he be sure? And can they be reunited? With a secret rebellion rising within the Sultan's palace, danger surrounds the lovers. A lush tale of treacherous secrets, forbidden love, and murder in the Ottoman palace.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
57 people are currently reading
1,741 people want to read
About the author
Katie Hickman
17books135followersKatie Hickman was born into a diplomatic family in 1960 and has spent more than twenty-five years living abroad in Europe, the Far East and Latin America. She is featured in the Oxford University Press guide to women travellers, Wayward Women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
July 24, 2010
Oh I couldn't give this book anything other than a 5 star rating, it has everything I enjoy in a great read. An historical 'romance' I've put the romance in inverted commas because it's not a typical romance with a HEA but rather a romance in the victorian sense of the word. Beautifully writen it captured my imagination right from the start. I love this time period 16th Century but not from an Elizabethan angle infact I find that period of 'English' history quite boring, no it's the Venetian and Ottoman settings I love. I also love anything that includes Astronomy, maths and mathematical instruments, and this story is full of the stuff, plus there's intrigue and mystery. I also like stories which have an element of reincarnation or sixth sense. So this was ideal for me.
The Avairy Gate is beautifully written set in the Topkapi Harem, Constantinople and Modern day Oxford and Istantbul it's a lovely story that spans the centuries. From the begining I got a real feel for the characters both in the past and the modern day setting. The intrigue that takes place within the harem is well put together, some readers may well 'solve' the intrigue but that really isn't the point of the story it's not a 'murder mystery' but rather an insight into the behaviours of the women within the harem and how despite the tranquility and the rules it's really every woman for herself by fair means or foul. In the meantime outside the harem walls another story develops and we see both sides of the overall story. The modern part of the story pulled me into the centuries past story even futher , I found myself not only piecing the story of the past together but also linking the characters from the past with those of the present day. I loved the description of Modern day Istanbul and how the author bought in historical settings to that modern world.
The author spent alot of time researching for her book and I appriciate all the details she included as they really drew me into both stories. I just love this book and I'm really looking forward to reading the next instalment.
The Avairy Gate is beautifully written set in the Topkapi Harem, Constantinople and Modern day Oxford and Istantbul it's a lovely story that spans the centuries. From the begining I got a real feel for the characters both in the past and the modern day setting. The intrigue that takes place within the harem is well put together, some readers may well 'solve' the intrigue but that really isn't the point of the story it's not a 'murder mystery' but rather an insight into the behaviours of the women within the harem and how despite the tranquility and the rules it's really every woman for herself by fair means or foul. In the meantime outside the harem walls another story develops and we see both sides of the overall story. The modern part of the story pulled me into the centuries past story even futher , I found myself not only piecing the story of the past together but also linking the characters from the past with those of the present day. I loved the description of Modern day Istanbul and how the author bought in historical settings to that modern world.
The author spent alot of time researching for her book and I appriciate all the details she included as they really drew me into both stories. I just love this book and I'm really looking forward to reading the next instalment.
September 5, 2008
Katie Hickman's "The Aviary Gate" is a story within a story. In present day Oxford Elizabeth Staveley, a graduate student, is looking through the Bodleian Library archives in search of material for her thesis on captivity narratives. She finds a fragment of a manuscript which describes a shipwreck and the unfortunate aftermath when the ship is boarded by Turkish pirates. The captain of the ship is murdered and several of the women are taken captive by the pirates, among them the captain's daughter, Celia.
Elizabeth immediately feels a connection with Celia and wants to find out more of her story. At the same time her personal life is experiencing upheaval. The man she is in love with is a wandering womanizer and as much as Elizabeth would like to break away, she is having trouble severing her ties to him. On an impulse, she abruptly leaves her life in Oxford and flies to Istanbul, not knowing what she is looking for but anxious to do SOMETHING. She seizes on following Celia's trail as a way to force change in her own life.
Woven in to Elizabeth's story are segments of Celia's life in 1599 Constantinople. She is bought for the Sultan's harem, intended to be his next "favorite" concubine. The reader sees the secretive world of the Ottoman harem. The female population is full of political maneuvering and infighting and Celia struggles to learn the hierarchy and her place in it. They even have a silent language they use amongst themselves when speaking is prohibited. For Celia it is a prison full of confusing rules, conflicting gossip, drama and backstabbing. When she discovers that her fiancee is in Constantinople on an errand for Queen Elizabeth I, she dreams of a chance to see him again.
The author paints a lush and beautiful picture of the secluded world of the harem and the women who inhabit it. Present day Istanbul is also described well. She presents an interesting peep into how that world might have been. I love books that transport you to a place which you can never visit, and make it seem like you have been there. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other titles by this author.
Elizabeth immediately feels a connection with Celia and wants to find out more of her story. At the same time her personal life is experiencing upheaval. The man she is in love with is a wandering womanizer and as much as Elizabeth would like to break away, she is having trouble severing her ties to him. On an impulse, she abruptly leaves her life in Oxford and flies to Istanbul, not knowing what she is looking for but anxious to do SOMETHING. She seizes on following Celia's trail as a way to force change in her own life.
Woven in to Elizabeth's story are segments of Celia's life in 1599 Constantinople. She is bought for the Sultan's harem, intended to be his next "favorite" concubine. The reader sees the secretive world of the Ottoman harem. The female population is full of political maneuvering and infighting and Celia struggles to learn the hierarchy and her place in it. They even have a silent language they use amongst themselves when speaking is prohibited. For Celia it is a prison full of confusing rules, conflicting gossip, drama and backstabbing. When she discovers that her fiancee is in Constantinople on an errand for Queen Elizabeth I, she dreams of a chance to see him again.
The author paints a lush and beautiful picture of the secluded world of the harem and the women who inhabit it. Present day Istanbul is also described well. She presents an interesting peep into how that world might have been. I love books that transport you to a place which you can never visit, and make it seem like you have been there. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other titles by this author.
February 17, 2010
The Aviary Gate by Kate Hickman is a lush narrative that reaches back into the sultan's harem of Constantinople, 1599, to relate a bittersweet story of loyalty, love, and loss. Elizabeth is a modern day grad student at Oxford, entangled with a rake and researching captivity narratives for a bid at an MPhil. She stumbles upon some clues that suggest an Englishwoman named Celia Lamprey survived a shipwreck in the late 1500s only to be sold as a slave into the Ottoman sultan's harem. Elizabeth's quest to learn more about the fate of Celia (and to disentangle herself from her own emotional enslavement to a man who doesn't deserve her) takes her from Oxford to Istanbul and while definitive proof can rarely survive four hundred years, sometimes history can reach out and speak to you.
The Aviary Gate goes back and forth between a few months in Elizabeth's present day story and a few days in Celia's narrative. While one might picture luxury and decadence in the harem, Hickman focuses on the lies and secrecy that permeate what is, essentially, a cage for the many women kept at the beck and call of a single sultan. I suppose it's not surprising to suggest that women have been catty for centuries, but it's particularly apparent in a story that features such treachery and backstabbing as women vie to become the Haseki, or favorite concubine of the sultan. There is also the possibility for incredible loyalty between individuals, but that pales in comparison to the terrible bits. When Celia learns that her old fiancee, Paul Pindar, is in Constantinople and might be aware of the fact that she survived the shipwreck... well, it puts her on a desperately hopeful track that ruins any chance she had of embracing the life she's been given in the harem. Hickman keeps the reader on the edge of her seat, wondering if there's any chance that this story might have a happy ending, and ultimately she produces a novel whose strength is in the historical details if not the character relationships.
At one point in the novel, a Turkish academic asks a rather perfectly apt question of Elizabeth: "What is this western obsession with harems?" Clearly the allure is for the sensual aspects, which the novel seems to savor at the beginning, but Hickman quickly veers away from such as complications arise. While Elizabeth's love life takes a turn for the better (she forgets the ass back home and meets up with a desirable Turkish man), Celia has been steadily dipping into a loss of hope as she clings to a simple desire of seeing Paul one last time even if he cannot save her. Hickman really does paint a vivid picture of the Ottoman Empire and the possible lives of women who were lost to the sultan's harem. It's not surprising that an author noted for her nonfiction work would take such care to thoroughly research the period, but all the effort is quite clear. The shift from risque to bittersweet was a bit rough, though, and I found it to be disappointing, as though Hickman wanted to provide some salacious or frightening bits but truly wanted to tell a tragic love story, too, which left things feeling a bit lopsided. There's no creschendo to the tragic love story -- Paul and Celia never speak, Celia never becomes a favorite of the sultan, we don't know if Celia gets to see Paul, we don't see Paul leave Constantinople, we don't see if Celia is executed for her reckless actions. We know that Paul survived and mourned her loss, but that's about it, and we're left unsatisfied.
Given the separation of Celia and Paul, not just by palace walls but by time (for it's been two years since Paul gave Celia up as drowned), it's not surprising that their love story is a bit one-note. We never get to see them interact, so each is simply harboring an image of the other that has been idealized over time. Paul is simply grieving on all levels and Celia seems a bit broken, even as she hopes that she might escape the harem. In novels, one generally finds characters who are willing to take extreme chances in order to change their lives, and even if they fail, they have at least made an attempt. Paul and Celia both abandon the quest quite easily as they understand the odds they're up against. It might be realistic, but it was also quite sad. Celia may have been a much more substantial character as opposed to Paul, but his lack of substance was surprising. My own interpretation was that Paul didn't love Celia enough to risk everything for her and Celia was abandoned to her fate, which quite probably includes drowning... the irony being that everyone originally assumed she had drowned when the ship went down. This time, she'd be tied into a sack and tossed from the palace walls to drown in the river if she was caught trying to open the Aviary Gate so she could see Paul again.
If you're looking for a glimpse at a fascinating time period, then Hickman certainly delivers there, but quite honestly, I would suggest checking out her nonfiction work before you turn to The Aviary Gate.
The Aviary Gate goes back and forth between a few months in Elizabeth's present day story and a few days in Celia's narrative. While one might picture luxury and decadence in the harem, Hickman focuses on the lies and secrecy that permeate what is, essentially, a cage for the many women kept at the beck and call of a single sultan. I suppose it's not surprising to suggest that women have been catty for centuries, but it's particularly apparent in a story that features such treachery and backstabbing as women vie to become the Haseki, or favorite concubine of the sultan. There is also the possibility for incredible loyalty between individuals, but that pales in comparison to the terrible bits. When Celia learns that her old fiancee, Paul Pindar, is in Constantinople and might be aware of the fact that she survived the shipwreck... well, it puts her on a desperately hopeful track that ruins any chance she had of embracing the life she's been given in the harem. Hickman keeps the reader on the edge of her seat, wondering if there's any chance that this story might have a happy ending, and ultimately she produces a novel whose strength is in the historical details if not the character relationships.
At one point in the novel, a Turkish academic asks a rather perfectly apt question of Elizabeth: "What is this western obsession with harems?" Clearly the allure is for the sensual aspects, which the novel seems to savor at the beginning, but Hickman quickly veers away from such as complications arise. While Elizabeth's love life takes a turn for the better (she forgets the ass back home and meets up with a desirable Turkish man), Celia has been steadily dipping into a loss of hope as she clings to a simple desire of seeing Paul one last time even if he cannot save her. Hickman really does paint a vivid picture of the Ottoman Empire and the possible lives of women who were lost to the sultan's harem. It's not surprising that an author noted for her nonfiction work would take such care to thoroughly research the period, but all the effort is quite clear. The shift from risque to bittersweet was a bit rough, though, and I found it to be disappointing, as though Hickman wanted to provide some salacious or frightening bits but truly wanted to tell a tragic love story, too, which left things feeling a bit lopsided. There's no creschendo to the tragic love story -- Paul and Celia never speak, Celia never becomes a favorite of the sultan, we don't know if Celia gets to see Paul, we don't see Paul leave Constantinople, we don't see if Celia is executed for her reckless actions. We know that Paul survived and mourned her loss, but that's about it, and we're left unsatisfied.
Given the separation of Celia and Paul, not just by palace walls but by time (for it's been two years since Paul gave Celia up as drowned), it's not surprising that their love story is a bit one-note. We never get to see them interact, so each is simply harboring an image of the other that has been idealized over time. Paul is simply grieving on all levels and Celia seems a bit broken, even as she hopes that she might escape the harem. In novels, one generally finds characters who are willing to take extreme chances in order to change their lives, and even if they fail, they have at least made an attempt. Paul and Celia both abandon the quest quite easily as they understand the odds they're up against. It might be realistic, but it was also quite sad. Celia may have been a much more substantial character as opposed to Paul, but his lack of substance was surprising. My own interpretation was that Paul didn't love Celia enough to risk everything for her and Celia was abandoned to her fate, which quite probably includes drowning... the irony being that everyone originally assumed she had drowned when the ship went down. This time, she'd be tied into a sack and tossed from the palace walls to drown in the river if she was caught trying to open the Aviary Gate so she could see Paul again.
If you're looking for a glimpse at a fascinating time period, then Hickman certainly delivers there, but quite honestly, I would suggest checking out her nonfiction work before you turn to The Aviary Gate.
December 9, 2016
At the end of this book, Hickman mentions all the research she did: but sadly while it definitely pays off in terms of atmosphere - rustling silks, perfumed gardens, glittering jewels - it does little to sustain a plot which is a standard `English girl in a harem' cliché.
Set, as so many novels currently are, in a dual time of 1599 Constantinople and present day Istanbul, this tells the story of two women entrapped: one literally in the Sultan's harem following a shipwreck, the other in a self-destructive love affair. One finally escapes, the other doesn't.
I read this because I was drawn to the Elizabethan story from the reviews but actually found that very derivative and was actually far more interested in the present day story which doesn't get nearly as much page space.
The Elizabethan narrative felt very unevenly paced with (real) characters introduced at the start and then just disappearing, and the plotline reduced to a standard female power-struggle in the harem, complete with poisonings, stabbings, and drownings...
I was a little disappointed until the ending where suddenly Hickman seemed to get her act together, and the sudden ambiguities there raised the book. If only the rest of it had been as subtle, nuanced and haunting as that.
So overall this is well-written but completely clichéd escapism: a perfect summer read, but with hints that it could have been something far more interesting.
Set, as so many novels currently are, in a dual time of 1599 Constantinople and present day Istanbul, this tells the story of two women entrapped: one literally in the Sultan's harem following a shipwreck, the other in a self-destructive love affair. One finally escapes, the other doesn't.
I read this because I was drawn to the Elizabethan story from the reviews but actually found that very derivative and was actually far more interested in the present day story which doesn't get nearly as much page space.
The Elizabethan narrative felt very unevenly paced with (real) characters introduced at the start and then just disappearing, and the plotline reduced to a standard female power-struggle in the harem, complete with poisonings, stabbings, and drownings...
I was a little disappointed until the ending where suddenly Hickman seemed to get her act together, and the sudden ambiguities there raised the book. If only the rest of it had been as subtle, nuanced and haunting as that.
So overall this is well-written but completely clichéd escapism: a perfect summer read, but with hints that it could have been something far more interesting.
August 28, 2017
Una giovane studiosa trova in biblioteca il frammento di una pergamena che la riporta alla Costantinopoli del 1559. Inizia così una narrazione a due livelli: la ricerca svolta nel mondo contemporaneo e la ricostruzione della storia di una donna dell'harem di Mehmet III. Scontro/incontro tra culture diverse, in una narrazione a mio avviso piuttosto sciatta e poco profonda
April 6, 2019
The characters do not inspire emotional attachment; the plot is sufficiently predictable to prevent reader interest, and the writing style is littered with a character’s thoughts. While not actively bad, The Aviary Gate is boring and instantly forgettable. I was disappointed.
February 10, 2009
Mystery, History, and Love Story during the Ottoman Empire
Haunting & refreshingly different, the story begins when a small scrap of old manuscript, dating to 1599, is accidentally discovered among the texts of Elizabeth’s studies. Elizabeth feels she must learn the fate of Celia, the betrothed daughter of the ship’s captain after his ship has floundered & Celia has been captured & brought to the Sultan’s harem. So begins our student’s research, delving into the realm of the Sultans and Harems of the old Ottoman empire in her search for what became of Celia, whose life was obviously the focus of the original manuscript.
This book is an easy and fascinating read, hard to put down. The chapters are well-defined so that switching over the 400 years from the happenings of the past to current times is as smooth as one could wish for. Rather than distracting, this shift makes the story more powerful and flowing.
The book is well-written, great continuity in both centuries and very informative as well. Katie Hickman’s research is very well done and there are many real people represented in the book as well as the fictional characters. This is no over-the-top sensationalized piece of fiction. I will not give away the main thrust of the story, but definitely recommend the book as a well-painted portrait of a different life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be watching for future books from this author.
Haunting & refreshingly different, the story begins when a small scrap of old manuscript, dating to 1599, is accidentally discovered among the texts of Elizabeth’s studies. Elizabeth feels she must learn the fate of Celia, the betrothed daughter of the ship’s captain after his ship has floundered & Celia has been captured & brought to the Sultan’s harem. So begins our student’s research, delving into the realm of the Sultans and Harems of the old Ottoman empire in her search for what became of Celia, whose life was obviously the focus of the original manuscript.
This book is an easy and fascinating read, hard to put down. The chapters are well-defined so that switching over the 400 years from the happenings of the past to current times is as smooth as one could wish for. Rather than distracting, this shift makes the story more powerful and flowing.
The book is well-written, great continuity in both centuries and very informative as well. Katie Hickman’s research is very well done and there are many real people represented in the book as well as the fictional characters. This is no over-the-top sensationalized piece of fiction. I will not give away the main thrust of the story, but definitely recommend the book as a well-painted portrait of a different life. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be watching for future books from this author.
March 5, 2012
I am so bloody disappointed. By the ending! I mean that poem that Celia leaves to Anetta could have been from before she went to see Paul, that night. Or indeed, it could have been from later on, after having come to the conclusion she would have never seen him ever again.
Anyway, the novel was interesting overall. I got to envisage a picture of Istanbul that I loved and it made me want to visit it for real. But the ending, good God, the ending! Why choose such an ending to a 500 pages novel? (at least in Romanian it was that lengthy!)
I hate Katie Hickman pretty much right now. For making me desire more of Mehmet'se n scenes (and by this I mean Elizabeth's Mehmet, not Mehmet the Sultan), for making me long for the presence of Paul and Celia, and basically, for desperately wishing for them to come together once again. This woman is a wretched criminal, I tell you. Why in God's name leave a reader unsatisfied? They will never read your books again. Which is my case, anyway.
Once again, I loved the novel but HATED the ending. That's why it's only 3 stars worth, at least to me it is!
Anyway, the novel was interesting overall. I got to envisage a picture of Istanbul that I loved and it made me want to visit it for real. But the ending, good God, the ending! Why choose such an ending to a 500 pages novel? (at least in Romanian it was that lengthy!)
I hate Katie Hickman pretty much right now. For making me desire more of Mehmet'se n scenes (and by this I mean Elizabeth's Mehmet, not Mehmet the Sultan), for making me long for the presence of Paul and Celia, and basically, for desperately wishing for them to come together once again. This woman is a wretched criminal, I tell you. Why in God's name leave a reader unsatisfied? They will never read your books again. Which is my case, anyway.
Once again, I loved the novel but HATED the ending. That's why it's only 3 stars worth, at least to me it is!
April 3, 2020
O carte captivanta,pe care o recomand-mister,suspans,pasiune...Toate îmbinate cu eleganta intr-un decor oriental -Bosforul,Cornul de Aur....haremul ,deținătorul a sute de povesti,pierdute ,neștiute.
October 26, 2011
Life in an Ottoman harem.
This received quite mixed reviews on Amazon UK, and I had reservations when I began reading. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised and found it a very enjoyable read with plenty of historical interest and atmospheric descriptions.
There are two time frames used in the novel; the current day story of historical researcher, Elizabeth Staveley, is used as a tool to provide the background to the more interesting historical section. Elizabeth finds a fragment of a manuscript suggesting that Celia, an English girl, may have been ship-wrecked by pirates at the end of the sixteenth century and subsequently sold into the harem of Sultan Mehmet III of Constantinople (now Istanbul). The novel follows a few months in Celia's life in 1599. Having been bought by the Sultan's favourite concubine, as a gift for her mother-in-law, we follow Celia's rise within the harem and the intrigue and sceming that goes on within those walls.
Paul Pindar is her fiance and assumes her drowned in the ship-wreck, until his cook, John Carew, chances to see her while visiting in the palace. Both the historical and the modern time frames then follow these characters in a search for the outcome of this love match. Did Paul manage to rescue Celia from the harem? What were their ultimate fates?
While parts of this novel were excellent (such as the description of the gelding of a young boy so that he might become a much prized eunuch), other parts were less well written. The modern story, in particular, had a rather chick-lit feel to it.
In discussion, our book group hilighted many incidences of dubious behaviour or inconsistencies, and I have to admit that these criticisms were valid. Some of these instances did detract from my reading, but mostly my enjoyment of the novel allowed me to ignore them. I did find the ending a bit weak though.
Paul Pindar and John Carew also feature in Hickman's latest novel, The Pindar Diamond, set in Venice, and I look forward to reading this in the near future.
This received quite mixed reviews on Amazon UK, and I had reservations when I began reading. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised and found it a very enjoyable read with plenty of historical interest and atmospheric descriptions.
There are two time frames used in the novel; the current day story of historical researcher, Elizabeth Staveley, is used as a tool to provide the background to the more interesting historical section. Elizabeth finds a fragment of a manuscript suggesting that Celia, an English girl, may have been ship-wrecked by pirates at the end of the sixteenth century and subsequently sold into the harem of Sultan Mehmet III of Constantinople (now Istanbul). The novel follows a few months in Celia's life in 1599. Having been bought by the Sultan's favourite concubine, as a gift for her mother-in-law, we follow Celia's rise within the harem and the intrigue and sceming that goes on within those walls.
Paul Pindar is her fiance and assumes her drowned in the ship-wreck, until his cook, John Carew, chances to see her while visiting in the palace. Both the historical and the modern time frames then follow these characters in a search for the outcome of this love match. Did Paul manage to rescue Celia from the harem? What were their ultimate fates?
While parts of this novel were excellent (such as the description of the gelding of a young boy so that he might become a much prized eunuch), other parts were less well written. The modern story, in particular, had a rather chick-lit feel to it.
In discussion, our book group hilighted many incidences of dubious behaviour or inconsistencies, and I have to admit that these criticisms were valid. Some of these instances did detract from my reading, but mostly my enjoyment of the novel allowed me to ignore them. I did find the ending a bit weak though.
Paul Pindar and John Carew also feature in Hickman's latest novel, The Pindar Diamond, set in Venice, and I look forward to reading this in the near future.
March 2, 2012
I heard about this novel about 3 years ago on Radio Four. Neglecting to note down the title because I was driving, I discovered it again by posting a query on an historical fiction forum I'm on. Funnily enough, I ended up reading it just after I'd read a similar tale of piracy and women carried off into captivity, The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson. Sadly, this book wasn't in the same league as Johnson's novel.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it, because I did. Hickman has clearly done her research because the tale is well-written and richly described, and unlike other reviewers, I thought it portrayed the claustrophobia & creepiness of the Sultan's harem very well. I thought that the story of Celia Lamprey (the heroine set in the 16th century) worked very well. What I felt the story lacked was a plausible modern day heroine. For me, she was quite two dimensional, lacking depth and indeed likeability. The manner in which her romantic feelings were described did not seem real to me. If her part had been more engaging, I would have rated this book as a four star read.
3.5 stars out of five. Well worth reading.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it, because I did. Hickman has clearly done her research because the tale is well-written and richly described, and unlike other reviewers, I thought it portrayed the claustrophobia & creepiness of the Sultan's harem very well. I thought that the story of Celia Lamprey (the heroine set in the 16th century) worked very well. What I felt the story lacked was a plausible modern day heroine. For me, she was quite two dimensional, lacking depth and indeed likeability. The manner in which her romantic feelings were described did not seem real to me. If her part had been more engaging, I would have rated this book as a four star read.
3.5 stars out of five. Well worth reading.
July 23, 2011
Wow! The start is incredibly uncomfortable to read - cue crossing legs and squirming. But once you get passed the mutilation and hardship the characters are instantly likable, even the cruel and rebellious ones. It's obvious how much research Hickman put into the novel (especially with the map and glossary), and one can not fail to appreciate this. On the other hand some writers get bogged down in their research and this can threaten to overshadow the plot and characters, but Hickman narrowly avoids this. I recommend this novel to people who aren't squeamish, who love historical fiction and who don't mind that certain parts have more than a pinch of poetic license - after all, it is fiction. If historical fiction isn't your thing then the novel still delivers in plot and character relationships. It begins with the poisoning of the chief eunuch and, through a series of flashbacks, we see events unfold from there. Gripping stuff. I loved it.
March 22, 2012
I discovered after opening this book that I had actually read it before, perhaps with a different cover, but I decided to go ahead and read it again anyhow, and I'm glad I did. I'm not always a fan of historical novels but I enjoyed this tale of an elizabethan englishwoman in the Sultan's harem ,and the intrigues and mysteries of Palace life. It was full of lush description and a lot of historical research..(some of the characters were from real life), and was something of an adventure story too in as much as we hear how a present day student discovers the existence of this story and pieces it together, visiting Istanbul and meeting new people who ultimately enrich her own life in the course of her investigations.
Does this book have Orientalist cliches?-yes, possibly, but I took it at face value as entertainment rather than a historical account..and for me it was just a really enjoyable read..
Does this book have Orientalist cliches?-yes, possibly, but I took it at face value as entertainment rather than a historical account..and for me it was just a really enjoyable read..
July 31, 2011
This is a good one and it's jam packed with details about life in a harem 1600s. This author has researched extensively. How many hours did she spend getting the details to bring this tale to life? Am not too far along yet, page 82. I will read more tonight before bed:)
Finished July 31.... story just haunting me and had to keep reading till I found out what happened to Celia Lamprey! Won't give away the ending as that would not be fair;) It had some twists at the ending that I didn't see coming.
Such a well written book and it was a fascinating look into life in a harem. Such intrigues!
Highly recommend this book!
Finished July 31.... story just haunting me and had to keep reading till I found out what happened to Celia Lamprey! Won't give away the ending as that would not be fair;) It had some twists at the ending that I didn't see coming.
Such a well written book and it was a fascinating look into life in a harem. Such intrigues!
Highly recommend this book!
December 7, 2012
An enjoyable and richly told tale. However, as is usually the case with stories split between a modern and an historical character, the present day heroine wasn't as interesting as the, in this case, 16th century woman.
This novel is very similar to The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson, but I agree with Ben Kane that it isn't really in the same league, nevertheless it is a very engaging story which I had a lot of pleasure reading.
This novel is very similar to The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson, but I agree with Ben Kane that it isn't really in the same league, nevertheless it is a very engaging story which I had a lot of pleasure reading.
May 27, 2015
Divna povijesna priča u kojoj se izmjenjuju prošlost i sadašnjost, ljubav i intrige, odanost i izdaje, borba za život i borba za moć...Životopisni opisi i nevjerojatni likovi, zagonetni i mistični do samoga kraja...Okrenite prvu stranicu i dopustite da vas uvuče u tajanstveni i zabranjeni svijet skriven iza vrata harema...
December 30, 2019
Foi o primeiro livro que li sobre o assunto. Então tudo pra mim foi uma supresa. Acho que existem grandes problemas de desenvolvimento no enredo. Porém como existe uma grande pesquisa por trás não conseguiria dar menos de 4 estrelas.
Talvez seja interessante pra pessoas, que como eu, tem um conhecimento limitado sobre o Império Otomano.
Talvez seja interessante pra pessoas, que como eu, tem um conhecimento limitado sobre o Império Otomano.
November 16, 2019
Wat een mooie roman. Betoverend, precies of je waant je in het Constantinopel van 1599. Prachtig verhaal over een harem, het paleisleven, labyrint van leugens, een liefdesgeschiedenis. Kortom, een boek om een 2e keer te lezen !
June 4, 2017
*screams into the void of darkness* I NEED ANSWERS. LIKE NOW!
But seriously can someone explain why all the male characters named have, to begin with, the letter M?
RTC. this was way better than I was expecting. At least there are 2 more books in this series. Because I need answers! NOW!
---
Okay, I bought this because I am Ottoman Empire trash, - but why the f*** is Nurbanu mentioned in the list of characters if she'd been dead for more than 10 years. Also, it states that she is the mother of Sultan Mehmed III. She was the mother of Murad III (Mehmed's Father w/ Safiye Sultan).
But seriously can someone explain why all the male characters named have, to begin with, the letter M?
RTC. this was way better than I was expecting. At least there are 2 more books in this series. Because I need answers! NOW!
---
Okay, I bought this because I am Ottoman Empire trash, - but why the f*** is Nurbanu mentioned in the list of characters if she'd been dead for more than 10 years. Also, it states that she is the mother of Sultan Mehmed III. She was the mother of Murad III (Mehmed's Father w/ Safiye Sultan).
February 17, 2021
4/5 ⭐️
Que triste historia, el poema del final te da el cierre completo a la historia y lo que pudo pasar.
Que triste historia, el poema del final te da el cierre completo a la historia y lo que pudo pasar.
September 9, 2014
This book took way too long to read because it could just not hold my interest. It’s about harems and enslaved English women and lost loves! How could it be so gosh darn boring?
To start with, the modern storyline was COMPLETELY unnecessary and worthless. Historian Elizabeth was so milquetoast I wanted to slap her. I knew I had read another book recently with modern/historical intertwining timelines with the modern girl involved with a guy who was no good for her she refused to break it off with and I hated it in the earlier book. And then going back through my reviews I realized Birdsong was the one with the same god damn plot and I hated it then and I hate it now. I hate it when the heroine is with a guy who she is desperately in love/lust with yet makes her miserable and she is too passive to break it off even though she knows she should. It always makes me start off by hating her. And Marius was greasy and creepy so her enduring passion for him just made me hate her more. And THEN the author gives her a Turkish love interest and they “meet cute� by him staring at her like a frickin� stalker while she’s eating and her seductively eating baklava when she knows he’s watching. THAT’S NOT A MEET CUTE!!! THAT’S A MEET CREEEEEPY! And there was no chemistry between them at all and he had no depth at all and it was one of the worst “romances� I’ve read.
Topped only perhaps by the historical romance plot since Paul and Celia never actually get to meet up in the entire book and there is ONE flashback of them interacting when they walk in a garden a bit and he tells her how much she’s grown-up. Ummm...yeah, that’s not the epic love that will fight against the Ottoman sultan and the harem rules that I thought this book offered me.
Paul’s plot was pretty much “oh, my dead fiancée isn’t dead! I want her back to save her from that rapist sultan. Oh, looks like I can’t save her, not that I ever really tried or made any attempt AT ALL to rescue her. Oh well, back to England.�
And Celia’s plot was “I am a virgin and I do not want to have sex with that icky sultan. I want my old life! Oh, Paul’s here! I will make no attempt to reach him or get a message out to him (well, one lame attempt that barely counts) or tell him to try to rescue me or seduce/bribe a guard to escape or curry favor with the sultan’s mother or try to get married off to a political favorite to get out of the harem and possibly escape with Paul more easily or ANYTHING AT ALL TO ESCAPE. Instead I will be used as a pawn by other people and not so much act as react to everything and get blown about by the winds of fate/intrigues of the harem and be lame and fail as a heroine. Oh, and I’m totally in love with Paul despite the fact that I met him about twice and never even married him and can’t really name that many stellar qualities about him or be specific about what I love about him.� Boring! At least her friend had some spunk and DID things but sadly she was just a supporting character.
And the part about Celia’s ghost possibly appearing to Elizabeth randomly? Lame and unnecessary, like most of this book.
To start with, the modern storyline was COMPLETELY unnecessary and worthless. Historian Elizabeth was so milquetoast I wanted to slap her. I knew I had read another book recently with modern/historical intertwining timelines with the modern girl involved with a guy who was no good for her she refused to break it off with and I hated it in the earlier book. And then going back through my reviews I realized Birdsong was the one with the same god damn plot and I hated it then and I hate it now. I hate it when the heroine is with a guy who she is desperately in love/lust with yet makes her miserable and she is too passive to break it off even though she knows she should. It always makes me start off by hating her. And Marius was greasy and creepy so her enduring passion for him just made me hate her more. And THEN the author gives her a Turkish love interest and they “meet cute� by him staring at her like a frickin� stalker while she’s eating and her seductively eating baklava when she knows he’s watching. THAT’S NOT A MEET CUTE!!! THAT’S A MEET CREEEEEPY! And there was no chemistry between them at all and he had no depth at all and it was one of the worst “romances� I’ve read.
Topped only perhaps by the historical romance plot since Paul and Celia never actually get to meet up in the entire book and there is ONE flashback of them interacting when they walk in a garden a bit and he tells her how much she’s grown-up. Ummm...yeah, that’s not the epic love that will fight against the Ottoman sultan and the harem rules that I thought this book offered me.
Paul’s plot was pretty much “oh, my dead fiancée isn’t dead! I want her back to save her from that rapist sultan. Oh, looks like I can’t save her, not that I ever really tried or made any attempt AT ALL to rescue her. Oh well, back to England.�
And Celia’s plot was “I am a virgin and I do not want to have sex with that icky sultan. I want my old life! Oh, Paul’s here! I will make no attempt to reach him or get a message out to him (well, one lame attempt that barely counts) or tell him to try to rescue me or seduce/bribe a guard to escape or curry favor with the sultan’s mother or try to get married off to a political favorite to get out of the harem and possibly escape with Paul more easily or ANYTHING AT ALL TO ESCAPE. Instead I will be used as a pawn by other people and not so much act as react to everything and get blown about by the winds of fate/intrigues of the harem and be lame and fail as a heroine. Oh, and I’m totally in love with Paul despite the fact that I met him about twice and never even married him and can’t really name that many stellar qualities about him or be specific about what I love about him.� Boring! At least her friend had some spunk and DID things but sadly she was just a supporting character.
And the part about Celia’s ghost possibly appearing to Elizabeth randomly? Lame and unnecessary, like most of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2020
"Poarta coliviei" m-a transportat in Constantinopolul secolului al XVI-lea, in haremul sultanului Mehmet al III-lea. M-am bucurat sa aflu amanunte despre harem (interzis), despre eunucii negrii (sclavi castrati aflati in slujba sultanului ca pazitori ai femeilor haremului), despre sclavele si favoritele sultanului numite in turca - Gözde, despre intrigile din interiorul palatului si jocurile de putere.
Ma asteptam insa, la alt final, am sperat ca Celia Lamprey (o englezoaica rapita de pirati si vanduta drept sclava pentru sultan, care ii devine mai tarziu cariye - concubina cu numele de Kaya), va evada din serai si se va reuni cu logodnicul ei, Paul Pindar.
Actiunea povestirii despre sultan si femeile haremului are loc in anul 1599, si ne poarta intr-o Turcie prea putin cunoscuta de noi cei de azi. Eu personal nu stiam ca haremul este ca un oras in sine, cu atat de multe femei si atat de multe reguli stricte, cu obiceiuri si ritualuri - aici cea mai importanta femeie era Haseki Sultan, mama sultanului, pe numele ei Safiye.
Autoare ne introduce practic intr-o lume a secretelor si a frumusetii, unde amantele sultanului sunt de fapt prizoniere, mereu la dispozitia lui, unde trebuie mereu sa concureze pentru titlul de favorita, iar altminterea, era decazuta si exilata.
Casa Fericirii, cum e numit haremul, e un labirint de camere mici, sufocante, fara ferestre dar totodata peste tot domneste luxul, femeile sunt impodobite cu bijuterii cu safire si nestemate iar apartamentele lui Valide Sultan au pereti dubli si coridoare ascunse de lambriuri. Totul e pavat cu gresie gri-verzuie care te duce cu gandul spre mistere si umbre.
Eu am fost fascinata de atmosfera anilor 1600 si mi-au ramas in minte personaje ca bucatarul John Carew, constructorul Thomas Dallam (si orga lui unicat), astrologul Jamal al-Andalus, tanara Hanza, privighetoarea Mihrimah devenita misterioasa Lala, eunucul aga Hassan, descurcareata Annetta, prietena Celiei care devine cariye Aysha, haseki Gulay, favorita sultanului si nu in ultimul rand, Valide Safiye, mama acestuia, care da dovata de o inteligenta iesita din comun, fiind o manipulatoare si umbra lui Dumnezeu pe pamant, cum este numita deseori in carte practic ea este personajul-cheie care conduce viata in imparatie.
Un citat preferat din carte:
"Ubi iaces dimidium, iacet pectoris mei. � Acolo unde este cealalta jumatate a mea, acolo e inima mea. "
Este o poveste interesanta si trista deopotriva, insa v-o recomand deoarece este diferita si oarecum exotica, si asta o face deosebita pentru orice cititor.
Ma asteptam insa, la alt final, am sperat ca Celia Lamprey (o englezoaica rapita de pirati si vanduta drept sclava pentru sultan, care ii devine mai tarziu cariye - concubina cu numele de Kaya), va evada din serai si se va reuni cu logodnicul ei, Paul Pindar.
Actiunea povestirii despre sultan si femeile haremului are loc in anul 1599, si ne poarta intr-o Turcie prea putin cunoscuta de noi cei de azi. Eu personal nu stiam ca haremul este ca un oras in sine, cu atat de multe femei si atat de multe reguli stricte, cu obiceiuri si ritualuri - aici cea mai importanta femeie era Haseki Sultan, mama sultanului, pe numele ei Safiye.
Autoare ne introduce practic intr-o lume a secretelor si a frumusetii, unde amantele sultanului sunt de fapt prizoniere, mereu la dispozitia lui, unde trebuie mereu sa concureze pentru titlul de favorita, iar altminterea, era decazuta si exilata.
Casa Fericirii, cum e numit haremul, e un labirint de camere mici, sufocante, fara ferestre dar totodata peste tot domneste luxul, femeile sunt impodobite cu bijuterii cu safire si nestemate iar apartamentele lui Valide Sultan au pereti dubli si coridoare ascunse de lambriuri. Totul e pavat cu gresie gri-verzuie care te duce cu gandul spre mistere si umbre.
Eu am fost fascinata de atmosfera anilor 1600 si mi-au ramas in minte personaje ca bucatarul John Carew, constructorul Thomas Dallam (si orga lui unicat), astrologul Jamal al-Andalus, tanara Hanza, privighetoarea Mihrimah devenita misterioasa Lala, eunucul aga Hassan, descurcareata Annetta, prietena Celiei care devine cariye Aysha, haseki Gulay, favorita sultanului si nu in ultimul rand, Valide Safiye, mama acestuia, care da dovata de o inteligenta iesita din comun, fiind o manipulatoare si umbra lui Dumnezeu pe pamant, cum este numita deseori in carte practic ea este personajul-cheie care conduce viata in imparatie.
Un citat preferat din carte:
"Ubi iaces dimidium, iacet pectoris mei. � Acolo unde este cealalta jumatate a mea, acolo e inima mea. "
Este o poveste interesanta si trista deopotriva, insa v-o recomand deoarece este diferita si oarecum exotica, si asta o face deosebita pentru orice cititor.
April 25, 2010
The story begins in the present time when student Elizabeth Staveley discovers a parchment in the Bodleian library that she's been looking for and which could hold the key to a mystery that's been hidden for 400 years.
In Constantinople in 1599 the Sultan's mother (the most powerful woman in the land) discovers the bodies of two people who have been poisoned in the Sultan's Palace. One is the chief of the eunuchs and the other is a young slave girl.
This is the start of an epic tale of love, murder, treachery and secrets in the 16th century Ottoman Empire.
The book centres on the discovery of a young English girl -- Celia Lamprey -- who was a slave in the Sultan's Palace. By chance, she is seen one day in the Palace grounds by an acquaintance of Paul Pindar, the secretary to the English Ambassador, who was betrothed to her and who he thought had been lost in a shipwreck two years ago.
The chapters alternate between the two time frames and the Sultan's mother is one of the central characters who uses her wits and intelligence to maintain her powerful position, while the English are trying to trade with the Ottomans and must tread carefully.
Elizabeth goes to Istanbul to try and find out more about Celia Lamprey's story and my favourite chapter is when she visits the old Topkapi Palace and while wandering round the rooms where Celia and the other concubines lived in the harem, she thinks she can sense their presence......can she hear them?
The plot was interesting and fascinating, but I was a little disappointed with some of the characters, like Celia, who I didn't really connect with, she was central to the story but I felt she wasn't very well developed.
In Constantinople in 1599 the Sultan's mother (the most powerful woman in the land) discovers the bodies of two people who have been poisoned in the Sultan's Palace. One is the chief of the eunuchs and the other is a young slave girl.
This is the start of an epic tale of love, murder, treachery and secrets in the 16th century Ottoman Empire.
The book centres on the discovery of a young English girl -- Celia Lamprey -- who was a slave in the Sultan's Palace. By chance, she is seen one day in the Palace grounds by an acquaintance of Paul Pindar, the secretary to the English Ambassador, who was betrothed to her and who he thought had been lost in a shipwreck two years ago.
The chapters alternate between the two time frames and the Sultan's mother is one of the central characters who uses her wits and intelligence to maintain her powerful position, while the English are trying to trade with the Ottomans and must tread carefully.
Elizabeth goes to Istanbul to try and find out more about Celia Lamprey's story and my favourite chapter is when she visits the old Topkapi Palace and while wandering round the rooms where Celia and the other concubines lived in the harem, she thinks she can sense their presence......can she hear them?
The plot was interesting and fascinating, but I was a little disappointed with some of the characters, like Celia, who I didn't really connect with, she was central to the story but I felt she wasn't very well developed.
November 1, 2013
I couldn't put this book down. I started out listening to it on tape, and the reader had a beautiful accented voice for the characters. Then I had to buy the book on my Nook to see how all the names were spelled, and read along while I continued to listen to it every chance I got. The author crammed a lot of stuff into this book, some more successfully than others. Her main character, Celia, was very weakly sketched. I wish she had given us more on the voyage and shipwreck itself, on Celia's years between shipwreck and harem. On Annetta, who's influence on Celia seemed to keep her from trying to escape her prisoner fate. I was mesmerized by the story of Hassan Aga. And the Valide Sultan's story of her path to the harem. But what was Lily's story? And how did the three become such loyal friends? I loved all the location description, and all the interesting elements involved...shipwreck, harem, eunechs, astrology, sugar ships, preparations for being "honored" by the sultan, secret passageways, summer houses along the Bosphorous, a diverse culture of characters. What I didn't like was the murder mystery, which left me very dissatisfied. Not until far too late did we learn why. And then they say the murderess, who did succeed in killing Hassan Aga's companion, was sent to the Palace of Tears as punishment? I would have thrown her in the sea. In pieces. Anyway...parts of this book were fascinating, and one element i kind of liked was that our modern day character, Elizabeth, was not able to answer every question. We can speculate. I'm still wondering if Celia survived that pain under her ribs. And this new Mehmet...a descendant of the old Mehmet? Who knows? And what has Eve been up to, back in Oxford?
October 18, 2013
I listened to this book, I suspect that made the experience even more painful. There were such long narrative bits that had nothing to do with the plot and felt like the author was preaching. Celia was bland and a little too unrealistically stupid, or maybe that was realistic, but who wants to hear an adventure story from the perspective of a mewling, ignoramus who refuses to adapt? Which brings me to Elizabeth, our modern heroine.
What a boring, pathetic person who didn't convincingly change. I have no respect for characters who "change" because they have a new man in their life. I'd bet good money Mehmet was just another Marius. Why would she suddenly go for a new type? She went from the bed of one man right into another man's. How could she like a man who kept calling her "baby" all the time?
I did like Carew, Annetta and was intrigued by the Three Nightingales. I think they should have been a bigger part of the story. Get rid of Elizabeth altogether and minimize Paul and Celia. In fact if Paul and Celia's story had come together bit by bit by being revealed from the perspectives of Carew, Annetta and the Nightingales that would have been more interesting.
Writing wasn't great either. A little too cliche, bad adjectives.
What a boring, pathetic person who didn't convincingly change. I have no respect for characters who "change" because they have a new man in their life. I'd bet good money Mehmet was just another Marius. Why would she suddenly go for a new type? She went from the bed of one man right into another man's. How could she like a man who kept calling her "baby" all the time?
I did like Carew, Annetta and was intrigued by the Three Nightingales. I think they should have been a bigger part of the story. Get rid of Elizabeth altogether and minimize Paul and Celia. In fact if Paul and Celia's story had come together bit by bit by being revealed from the perspectives of Carew, Annetta and the Nightingales that would have been more interesting.
Writing wasn't great either. A little too cliche, bad adjectives.
August 27, 2009
sigh. i really wanted to like this book of two parallel love affairs - one from the 16th century and the other present day. it had all the right elements...meticulously researched, nicely written, desperate lovers, and a harem? wow...now maybe i could learn something! but it just didn't click for me. i never connected with celia, the young englishwoman sold into slavery after surviving a shipwreck, and paul, her merchantman betrothed, even less. never felt the love, esp. since they do not share one scene in the novel. i was confused by the many characters in the harem - who seemed to all be named the same; in fact, few of the characters in the book are fully realized, save elizabeth, our present day (and sad sack) graduate student. it was just a big "eh" for me. i spent a good part of the novel confused about who was who and who was spying on whom and i reached a point where i just didn't care. i feel guilty about that...but am not sure why. and for a book about a harem, i didn't get why 1) there was rarely any sex (not that there's anything wrong with that!); and 2) our heroine, celia, is only summoned once!
August 11, 2017
Il passato s’intreccia con il presente e, grazie alla doppia narrazione, lo contamina, lo influenza. Due donne vissute in epoche e situazioni totalmente opposte si avvicinano e quasi si toccano, in cerca di un reciproco aiuto. Elizabeth, grazie alle sue indagini sulla vita di Celia, spera di uscire dalla sua relazione morbosa e masochistica, e Celia desiderosa che qualcuno renda note le sue vicende. Il suo terrore di rimanere per sempre sepolta viva e dimenticata all’interno dell’harem diventa palpabile e udibile dall’unica donna che, molti secoli dopo, può renderle giustizia riportandola metaforicamente alla vita.
November 28, 2008
The Aviary Gate is a story of two romances. One takes place in ancient Constantinople, the other takes place in present day Istanbul. Elizabeth Staveley is our modern day heroine who stumbles across part of a letter detailing the story of Celia Lamprey, a young woman who was captured and sold into slavery. The story alternates between Elizabeth's trip to Istanbul (taken to further research Celia's story), and Celia's adventures in the sultan's harem in Constantinople. Overall I found both stories very interesting and entertaining.
July 24, 2013
Ugh that ending was horrible! I was so intrigued by the entire book then after the effort I put into reading it, the ending was so unsatisfactory. I think if she had just resolved the Celia-Paul relationship and given more time for the Elizabeth-Mehmet relationship, the ending would have been great. I think Kate Hickman tried to hard in making the ending seem "different"
UPDATE:
i have to admit, i hated it when i finished it, but then i realized that i craved for other books like it, and i still can't find my fix. so i've upped the rating from a 3 to a 4 :)
UPDATE:
i have to admit, i hated it when i finished it, but then i realized that i craved for other books like it, and i still can't find my fix. so i've upped the rating from a 3 to a 4 :)
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