A regular visitor to Istanbul since the early 1960s, British writer and translator Clark celebrates the Turkish city. Rather than duplicating any of the myriad guides and histories, he draws attention to places and buildings that give insights into Istanbul's rich past, and shows how it has seized the imagination of those who have visited it or made it their home. The initial chapter glances at the Roman city of Constantinople/Byzantium, but his focus is on the city since the Islamic conquest in 1453. His topics are the siege of 1453 and regime change, Islamic empire, modernity and foreign influences, walking through belle epoque Istanbul, end of empire, the waters of the city, sailing to Istanbul, and contemporary Istanbul. The 2010 British edition was subtitled A Cultural and Literary History. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)