Inanna

This books title is taken from the ancient Sumerian god Inanna. It is set in the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century and is the story of Cemil an educated man who despite having studied in Baghdad Istanbul and Paris still hasnt found himself and lives in his fathers shadow. During his search to find himself he meets an Armenian girl and falls in love with her. Cemil is already married and the girls father does not approve of his daughter becoming Cemils second wife. His father sends Cemil from their village into exile. The story follows Cemil his wife and the Armenian girl on their journey to find a place to live and the three men who try to protect them. Intertwined with Cemils story is another about Bilal a young man sent to become a Janissary-a soldier for the Empire. Following the Sultans disbandment of the Janissary Corps Bilal starts working for a Pasha. One evening whilst looking after hunting dogs in the Pashas mansion he sees a girl. Shes Nurhayal one of the Pashas concubines. Even though its forbidden for them to meet or even look at each other they fall in love. Set during a turbulent period in Istanbuls history this novel explores the lives of its soldiers and people their social lives relationships and their struggles to live in the capital of the Ottoman Empire. It tells the story of several cultures that lived together in a single Empire on the soil of Anatolia and looks at the daily lives of the people and their loves against the background of change during difficult times.