Last Days of the Ottoman Empire

By Ryan Gingeras | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

About the book

'Impressive ... It is a complicated story that still reverberates, and Gingeras narrates it with lucid authority' New Statesman

The story of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, published to coincide with the centenary of its dissolution


The Ottoman Empire had been one of the major facts in European history since the Middle Ages. By 1914 it had been much reduced, but still remained after Russia the largest European state. Stretching from the Adriatic to the Indian Ocean, the Empire was both a great political entity and a religious one, with the Sultan ruling over the Holy Sites and, as Caliph, the successor to Mohammed.

Yet the Empire's fateful decision to support Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914, despite its successfully defending itself for much of the war, doomed it to disaster, breaking it up into a series of European colonies and what emerged as an independent Saudi Arabia.

Ryan Gingeras's superb new book, published for the centenary of the last Sultan's departure into exile, explains how these epochal events came about and shows how much we still live in the shadow of decisions taken so long ago. Would all of the Empire fall to marauding Allied armies, or could something be saved? In such an ethnically and religiously entangled region, what would be the price paid to create a cohesive and independent new state? The story of the creation of modern Turkey is an extraordinary, bitter epic, brilliantly told here.

Editions of Last Days of the Ottoman Empire

Hardcover
ISBN 9780241444320

Read an Excerpt

'Impressive ... It is a complicated story that still reverberates, and Gingeras narrates it with lucid authority' New Statesman

The story of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, published to coincide with the centenary of its dissolution


The Ottoman Empire had been one of the major facts in European history since the Middle Ages. By 1914 it had been much reduced, but still remained after Russia the largest European state. Stretching from the Adriatic to the Indian Ocean, the Empire was both a great political entity and a religious one, with the Sultan ruling over the Holy Sites and, as Caliph, the successor to Mohammed.

Yet the Empire's fateful decision to support Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914, despite its successfully defending itself for much of the war, doomed it to disaster, breaking it up into a series of European colonies and what emerged as an independent Saudi Arabia.

Ryan Gingeras's superb new book, published for the centenary of the last Sultan's departure into exile, explains how these epochal events came about and shows how much we still live in the shadow of decisions taken so long ago. Would all of the Empire fall to marauding Allied armies, or could something be saved? In such an ethnically and religiously entangled region, what would be the price paid to create a cohesive and independent new state? The story of the creation of modern Turkey is an extraordinary, bitter epic, brilliantly told here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Last Days of the Ottoman Empire about?

'Impressive ... It is a complicated story that still reverberates, and Gingeras narrates it with lucid authority' New Statesman

The story of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, published to coincide with the centenary of its dissolution


The Ottoman Empire had been one of the major facts in European history since the Middle Ages. By 1914 it had been much reduced, but still remained after Russia the largest European state. Stretching from the Adriatic to the Indian Ocean, the Empire was both a great political entity and a religious one, with the Sultan ruling over the Holy Sites and, as Caliph, the successor to Mohammed.

Yet the Empire's fateful decision to support Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914, despite its successfully defending itself for much of the war, doomed it to disaster, breaking it up into a series of European colonies and what emerged as an independent Saudi Arabia.

Ryan Gingeras's superb new book, published for the centenary of the last Sultan's departure into exile, explains how these epochal events came about and shows how much we still live in the shadow of decisions taken so long ago. Would all of the Empire fall to marauding Allied armies, or could something be saved? In such an ethnically and religiously entangled region, what would be the price paid to create a cohesive and independent new state? The story of the creation of modern Turkey is an extraordinary, bitter epic, brilliantly told here.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Last Days of the Ottoman Empire?

History and Archaeology > History > Asian history

Where can I read a sample of Last Days of the Ottoman Empire?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241444320

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Last Days of the Ottoman Empire?

Ryan Gingeras

Who is the Publisher of the book Last Days of the Ottoman Empire?

Penguin Books Ltd

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Last Days of the Ottoman Empire is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241444320)

Where can I buy Last Days of the Ottoman Empire online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Last Days of the Ottoman Empire from below

Where can I buy Last Days of the Ottoman Empire?