The book not only gives us a detailed account of the world and the times she lived in, but almost transports us there. It gives us a peep into the world of the Ottomans, whose ethnic origin lay in the same geographical region as that of all dynasties that ruled India during the Sultanate period (1206-1526) — except the Lodis (1451-1526) and the Suris (1540-1555). Peirce gives us a profile of the international nature of both the Ottoman harem and the administration. The book is immensely rewarding for those interested in the Ottoman world. Empress of The East: How a Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire By Leslie Pierce, Icon, £20

Source: The Telegraph May 09, 2019 19:07 UTC