Today I finished The Historical Fiction Club 31-Day Author’s Challenge! It was fun, interesting and of course challenging!
If you are interested in finding out more, just carry on reading…
Day 1: Introduce your historical novel to us
The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus
It is 1903 – the dawn of a new century in İstanbul, the Ottoman Imperial capital.
Anarchy and unrest threaten the old order in Europe; meanwhile, powerful enemies are plotting the fall of the once mighty Ottoman Empire.
Languishing behind the high walls and heavily-guarded gates of the Çırağan Palace are the former Sultan Murad V and his family. This palace on the shores of the Bosphorus has been their ‘gilded cage’ for nearly thirty years: ever since Murad’s deposition in 1876, they have been held in strict confinement on the orders of his younger brother, the autocratic ruler Sultan Abdülhamid II.
Murad knows that only his death can bring freedom for his beloved family. His hopes are simple: that his daughters and granddaughters may find love and happiness; that his son and grandsons may seek out adventure, fulfilment and purpose; and above all, that the Ottoman Empire may survive the attacks on its sovereignty.
But the waters of the Bosphorus run deep: violence comes dangerously close to home, and scandal in the family threatens to bring destruction of all that Murad holds dear …
Day 2: What is the first line of your novel?
“It’s a boy! It’s a healthy baby boy!”
Day 3: Short Quote
“New life brought a reminder of the importance of family; it was an affirmation of the value of hope, and of the necessity of optimism for what the future might still hold.”
Day 4: Themes of your book
FAMILY, HOPE, LOVE, SEARCH FOR PURPOSE
Day 5: When / where does your novel take place?
My book is set between 1903-1905 in Istanbul, the Imperial capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Day 6: What works influenced your book?
‘War and Peace’ by Leo Tolstoy is perhaps the greatest influence on my book. I respect how accurately Tolstoy depicts historical events and the meticulous research he so clearly carried out. I am in awe of how skilfully he portrays his characters while weaving them so intricately together. And his main themes of family, the search for purpose and of course love, not only others but for one’s homeland, is something I wanted to try to emulate in some small way.
Day 7: Short Excerpt
Hadice sat up in bed, her thick, dark hair tumbling over her shoulders and falling onto the satin pillows that were propped up all around her. The letter she had received from her father earlier that evening had made her feel desperately sad and lonely, reigniting her yearning for the warm, intimate family atmosphere of Çırağan. She had read about the safe arrival of Nihad’s child with great joy; however, picturing to herself the happy scenes of celebration that would surely be taking place in her father’s home had exacerbated her feelings of loneliness. She had cried many tears of self-pity, and had cursed herself for having been so eager to forsake such a loving, supportive environment.
Then a second letter – this time from Kemaleddin – had arrived, and her mood had undergone an instant transformation. She was now holding this letter close to her chest, which was heaving up and down as she fought to restore herself to calm after the desperate inner conflict that had just taken place. His words had excited her and aroused her in ways she did not fully understand; however, her conscience had soon overpowered her desires, pouring cold water on the fires within her. Initially, on reading his suggestion that they should meet, her feelings had pressed her to agree, and fuel had been added to the flames by a sudden surge of longing to escape from the cage of convention that kept her trapped in the harem of her yalı; in the end, however, prudence and cool-headed rationality had prevailed. Of course she must refuse him. Yes, she would refuse him – for now at least …
Day 8: Main character’s personality
My main character is Sultan Murad V. He was intelligent, well-educated, extremely charismatic and handsome. He was an enlightened liberal prince, a modern reformist, a talented composer, a loving father, devoted husband, and a kind, gentle, sensitive man.
Day 9: Why is History vital to your story?
History is vital to my book as I felt compelled and duty bound to share the story of my ancestors from their perspective. And in doing so I wanted to portray as accurate and true a picture as was possible. History is often written by the victors – and not always fairly recorded…
Day 10: Short Quote
Passers-by glanced with curiosity at the tall, handsome Nubian eunuch walking briskly along the Grande Rue de Péra dressed in a thick black stambouline jacket and a warm woollen coat against the cold. Though the stares were unwelcome, he was accustomed to them: eunuchs from the Imperial households always attracted attention in the streets of İstanbul. His cherry-red fez was tilted slightly towards his left ear, and as he strode purposefully in the direction of Galatasaray, the black silk tassel that hung down to the nape of his neck swung gracefully to and fro like the pendulum of a grandfather clock.
Day 11: Do your characters enjoy the time period they live in? Why or why not?
The time period in which my characters live was most definitely not an easy one. They lived in enforced confinement in their ‘gilded cage on the Bosphorus’ – dreaming of obtaining their freedom and liberty while worrying about the fate of the Ottoman Empire. However, the times would bring greater hardships in the future, so with hindsight they’d look back on these years with fondness – after all they were together, living in comfort in their homeland under the rule of the Sultan… All this would change…
Day 12: How did you decide on your title?
I wanted my title to evoke the setting of my story, and ‘The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus’ seemed perfect. It just came to me one day while I was researching the book, and I didn’t appreciate how fortunate that was. Now I’m really struggling to find a title for the sequel that I’ve started working on, which is really frustrating…
Day 13: What song would you choose for your book?
I would choose a composition written by my main character, Sultan Murad V himself – probably his waltz in E-flat that was composed in 1879.
Day 14: Saturday Excerpt
The hammam at Çırağan was one of the jewels of the entire palace. Smoky grey veining of different shades ran through the glistening white marble that covered the floors, walls and ceilings. The rooms were flooded with natural light that streamed in through the large windows overlooking the Bosphorus and the lower terraces of the gardens of Yıldız, as well as from roof lanterns cut into the domes above each chamber. Yet more light filtered in through windows in the ceilings, each one shaped like an eight-pointed star. The raised relaxation areas running along each side of both chambers were separated from the lower level by a marble balustrade in an arabesque design, and were divided into sections by pairs of tall marble pillars. Set into the thick marble walls were ornate arched alcoves and recesses holding oil lamps and candles which flickered as they burned, creating dancing shadows behind them. Elaborate friezes with interlaced geometric patterns were carved into the architraves around each door and window, and every marble panel and niche was decorated with intricate floral motifs and symmetrical latticework. Tiered marble muqarnas projected out from beneath the ceilings, giving the impression that honeycomb was dripping down onto those below. The constant sound of water flowing from the bronze taps into the marble basins soothed the ear, ensuring a harmonious and relaxing atmosphere.
Safiru willingly submitted to the firm but skilful hands of the Mistress of the Baths. She sat on a wooden stool while warm water was poured over her head and body from silver bathing bowls engraved with prayers and floral designs. The olive oil soap, scented with rosemary and laurel, was repeatedly lathered into her ivory-smooth skin with a silk bath glove until it ran off her onto the floor like foam on the surface of the sea. After being rinsed, Safiru felt a coarse palm-root mitt being rubbed vigorously over her skin, and her body began to tingle. It was as if she could feel her soul being purged while her body was purified. Once this was done, Safiru shut her eyes and surrendered herself to the pleasure of being washed and massaged again. Oblivious to the whispering voices of the princesses and the Imperial consorts, wives and Gözdes in the hammam, she drifted into an unexplored realm that lay somewhere between consciousness and sleep.
Day 15: Main character’s biggest regret (without giving away spoilers)
My main character is Sultan Murad V – his biggest regret was not being stronger when he ascended the Ottoman throne. His moment of weakness led to his deposition from the throne and to his enforced confinement in his ‘Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus’ for nearly thirty years.
Day 16: Who is your main character’s antagonist?
My main character’s primary antagonist is his younger brother Sultan Abdülhamid II, but the rise of nationalism in the Balkan States and the interference of the Great Powers in the Ottoman Empire are also important antagonists in the book.
Day 17: Short Quote
I have learnt a great deal from listening to Grandfather and Father recite verses by Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, and from hearing them discuss the ideas in his poems. One of the many quotations from that great Sufi mystic that I often heard them talk about, and cannot forget, is as follows: ‘Do not grieve: anything you lose comes around in another form.
Day 18: What do you love about your book?
What I love most about my book is that I have given a voice to Sultan Murad V – my great great grandfather. History has not been kind to him, and it was a dream of mine to tell his story in an attempt to share his truth.
My book was also written to encourage my children’s interest and sense of pride in their heritage, and to teach them the forgotten customs and traditions of my family. I wanted to record some of the many stories and memoires that my grandfather shared with me of his life in the Çırağan Palace before they are lost forever. And I wanted to discover more about the characters and personalities behind the faces in our faded old family photographs, so as to keep their memory alive. I feel that my book has gone some way to achieving this and I love that it has…
Day 19: How does your main character change in the storyline?
He learns to accept his fate.
Day 20: What’s a research reference that you used?
I love primary sources, and perhaps one of the most important research references I used was my grandfather’s memoirs.
Day 21: Saturday Excerpt
“Perfect!” exclaimed Jean Pascal. “Now we are ready for Aslan Bey.” He placed a richly-embroidered cushion on the seat of the tête-à-tête chair, which was upholstered in red velvet, and Hadice called Aslan to her. The dog obediently jumped up onto the seat and sat on the cushion facing the photographer just as if he knew precisely what was expected of him. Everyone laughed, and this served to lighten the atmosphere in the room even further.
Hadice looked magnificent. Her thick dark hair framed her face in a loose pompadour bun; the simple cream dress she was wearing had a high neck and ruffled sleeves that fell to the top of her white gloves, while its sweeping train lay pooled in front of her. She had decided not to wear much jewellery as she wanted the Imperial Order that hung around her neck, and the Mecidiye Order pinned to her left breast, to stand out. Fehime thought she had never seen her sister looking more lovely or more dignified.
Jean Pascal wheeled his camera forward on the small wheels attached to the tripod legs; noticing how badly they creaked, he made a mental note to have them oiled as soon as he returned to the studio. He then made a slight adjustment to the camera’s angle, tilted the lens, and disappeared for a moment beneath the dark cloth draped over the camera box in order to view the inverted image. He brought the image into focus by adjusting the distance between the lens and the film plate, moving the folding leather bellows as though he was playing an accordion. When he reappeared, he was utterly dumbfounded to see that Hadice was unveiled: during the few seconds it had taken him to re-emerge from under the dark cloth, she had unpinned her yashmak and allowed it to float to the floor. Zeynel Ağa moved forward to pick up the discarded veil, his smooth, finely-chiselled face betraying nothing of what he might be thinking. Jean Pascal, meanwhile, looked thunderstruck, having been thrown completely off guard. Unlike the old eunuch, he was incapable of hiding his mental confusion.
“Jean Pascal Bey, I think you will need to hurry before Aslan tires of the pose,” Hadice said. Fehime giggled behind her hand. How she loved her sister, and how she admired her ready wit!
Jean Pascal now disappeared under the dark cloth for a second time – more to settle his nerves than to double-check the focus. Then, standing to attention beside his camera box, he squeezed the small air-pump ball that operated the shutter system and took the photograph. Neither Hadice nor Aslan had moved even a millimetre. He knew instantly that he had captured a perfect image.
Day 22: Would you live in the time period in which you wrote?
In some ways, absolutely!
My book is set between 1903-1905. I love the traditions, customs and of course the fashions of the time, and I would have loved to have experienced the splendour of Imperial İstanbul at first hand. However, I think I would have struggled with the constraining conventions and restrictive rules that bound society at the time, and I would most definitely not have wanted to have lived through the terror and horror of WWI or the tragedy of being forced into exile as was the fate of the characters in my book…
Day 23: Something hard about writing historical fiction?
What I find the hardest thing about writing historical fiction, is stopping myself from delving too deeply into extraneous research. I regularly go off at a tangent and follow a particular research trail for days that I know has no relevance and will have no place in my book – just for fun!
Day 24: Short Quote
Once Selahaddin and Nihad had mounted their horses and Fuad had got astride his pony, the small procession headed out through the heavily-carved marble gateway with its towering gates of ornate, interlaced ironwork – gates which had kept the family imprisoned within them for so many years, but which now hung wide open, inviting them to pass through. As his horse turned the corner into the road outside, Selahaddin felt a jolt in his stomach – was it really as easy as that to leave Çırağan?
Day 25: What is the best review you’ve received for your book?
The best review I received for my book came from a lovely lady from Romania. Her words made me cry!
“A book that offers a fascinating glimpse into the Ottoman Empire, written by Ayşe Osmanoğlu, an author who is also a member of the Imperial Ottoman Family.
Let me start by telling you that I love Turkish writers. Orhan Pamuk has made me fall in love with the rich beauty of Istanbul, while Elif Shafak helped me get better acquainted with Sufism. She introduced me to Rumi, and I will always feel grateful to her for that. When I came across this wonderful book, I was immediately intrigued. I read the description on the back and I knew this would become one of my all-time favorite books.
There were so many things I loved about the book:
– Rich descriptions of Imperial life – it was interesting to read about the different traditions, such as the processing of the cradle, which was done for new babies born in the Imperial Ottoman family
– Intrigue & conflict – I think the author wanted to show that the frailty of an empire is often accentuated from the inside. At the same time, we had the opportunity to realize the members of the Imperial Family were mere humans, with flaws and weaknesses. They made mistakes but their position rarely allowed for redemption, they were either punished on the spot or forced to live a life full of regret and guilt.
– Characters – I applaud the author for bringing them once again to life, I think this is the best way to tell history, through the people who actually got to live it.
– Detailed accounts of the clothes and foods from back then – they contributed to the exotic backdrop of the story, standing as proof that a lavish life might have seemed great from the outside but it brought little comfort to those living behind the heavily-guarded gates.
– History lesson – the book offers such a detailed account of the Imperial Family and life in captivity. As readers we are introduced to complex topics, explained through the characters, in a way that anyone can understand (threats on the Ottoman Empire, rising nationalism, emerging power blocks).
This is, without any doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. It is the kind of story that draws you in from the start. The author has a natural talent for writing and it was a pleasure to travel back in time, reading about the complex life and challenges of the Ottoman Imperial Family. Highly recommended!”
Day 26: Why did you choose this time period to write about?
That is easy! I chose to write a book about my grandfather’s life so I simply began right at the beginning – with his birth!
Day 27: Another #HistoricalFiction author who interests you
Jean Plaidy, Hilary Mantel, Lady Antonia Fraser, Colin Falconer and Jason Goodwin.
Day 28: Saturday Excerpt
The rest of the afternoon was spent playing in the snow in the harem garden…
First Selahaddin supervised Fuad and Atiye as they made a large snowball; then he helped them roll it round and round the garden until they were satisfied that it would make a corpulent frame for the snowman. Rukiye searched for stones and twigs that she thought might be used to decorate it, while Adile and Safiye busied themselves making a smaller snowball that was soon ready to be lifted on top of the rotund belly. Behiye encouraged Vâsıb to collect handfuls of snow to pat into the portly snowman’s tummy, and he took great delight in doing this – until his hands got wet and cold, and he began to cry. Behiye bent down, took off his damp mittens, blew onto his chubby pink hands and gave them a gentle rub to warm them. This seemed to work: he giggled as he watched Fuad place Selahaddin’s old fez on top of the snowman’s head and Atiye wrap one of her father’s scarves around its neck. Rukiye pushed two stones into its face, giving it two large black eyes, and laid a row of smaller stones in a curved line to form a somewhat lop-sided smile. Adile and Safiye made spindly arms out of the sticks Rukiye had gathered, and rested their father’s wooden walking stick against one of the plump figure’s twiggy hands.
“I think our snowman is missing something,” Selahaddin announced. So saying, he took a clay pipe out of his pocket and stuck the amber mouthpiece in the snowman’s mouth. From another pocket he pulled out an old, broken pair of spectacles and placed it over the stony, vacant eyes. Everyone clapped and cheered.
Day 29: Who is your favourite character in your own book?
That is easy. It is my grandfather! Prince Ali Vâsıb. I absolutely adored him. However he does not feature hugely in this first book of my planned series, since he is only a baby. I probably identify most with Princess Fehime. She was the middle daughter of Sultan Murad V, and my grandfather’s great aunt – a strong, independent woman, who fiercely resisted the restraints of tradition and convention.
Day 30: Are you a pantser or a planner? How did this affect the narrative?
The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus is the first book I have ever written, and the whole process has been a very steep learning curve for me. I planned no plot outlines, made no chapter summaries and I had never even heard of the Three Act structure! I guess that makes me a ‘pantser’!
However, during lockdown I did an online creative writing course, so I plan to write the sequel in a much more structured way! I do think that my narrative was affected by my lack of planning and outlining – with the knowledge I have since gained from the writing course, I think the narrative could have been more structured, the pace been better, and certain scenes been more carefully crafted.
Day 31: Author’s choice and Who would you get to play your main character if your book was made into a movie?
Author’s Choice: I would just like to thank Dee and The Historical Fiction Club for organising this 31-Day Challenge. It’s been really lovely finding out more about you all and about all your fabulous and interesting books. I’d also like to wish everyone much enjoyment and every success with your writing…
As to who I would ask to play my main character if my book was ever made into a film, that’s a hard question! I would ideally like to find a little known, up and coming Turkish actor who would bring an unpretentious, sensitive performance to the role of Sultan Murad V.
However, if Hollywood insisted on a big name then I would first approach Ralph Fiennes to see if he was interested in the project! He brings humility, sensitivity and vulnerability to his performances, has a similar natural charm and charisma and similarly deep and haunting eyes to Sultan Murad V, and an unmistakably gentle yet noble poise which would be perfect.
