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The Architect's Apprentice

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The Architect's Apprentice

By: Elif Shafak
Narrated by: Grant Cartwright
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About this listen

There were six of us: the master, the apprentices and the white elephant. We built everything together...

Sixteenth century Istanbul: a stowaway arrives in the city bearing an extraordinary gift for the Sultan. The boy is utterly alone in a foreign land, with no worldly possessions to his name except Chota, a rare and valuable white elephant destined for the palace menagerie.

So begins an epic adventure that will see young Jahan rise from lowly origins to the highest ranks of the Sultan's court. Along the way he will meet deceitful courtiers and false friends, gypsies, animal tamers, and the beautiful, mischievous Princess Mihrimah. He will journey on Chota's back to the furthest corners of the Sultan's kingdom and back again. And one day he will catch the eye of the royal architect, Sinan, a chance encounter destined to change Jahan's fortunes forever.

©2014 Elif Shafak (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Historical Fiction Fiction Royalty Heartfelt Elephant

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Critic reviews

"This is Shafak's most ambitious novel yet, and it is her best ..." ( The Independent)
"This edifying, emotionally forceful novel shows how hate and envy destroy, and how love might build the world anew ..." ( The Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant
Fascinating look at the Ottoman Empire, from the lowly lives to the highest in the land. It is such a visual book that I feel as if I have been to Istanbul and didn't notice my covid lockdown life so long as I kept reading. With Grant Cartwright's narration, he brought everything so brilliantly written to life, superb.

Enthralling

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Really enjoyed this book, started on kindle but enjoyed more as audiobook. Became really fond of Jahan and Chota and Sinan.
Architectural and historical facts really intersting but kept alive by Characters.

Semi factual great story, great character

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I liked this book for its pace (as well as its unusual story line!!), reminiscent of Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori, a leisurely and respectful listen. And I liked to accent and tone of voice of the reader...at a guess, softly South African...lent itself well to the subject and our hero being foreigner in Istambul. Highly recommended.

A lyrical listen

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A wonderful tale full of fascinating details, human nature, intrigue, twists and turns like making your way through labyrinthine lanes of the old city of Istanbul all anchored by the faithful relationship between one man and an elephant. This is a long book but not one word is wasted, a truly riveting tale which will not disappoint.

Fascinating

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I found this a really interesting and enjoyable listen - an excellent, involving story that maintained my interest throughout, it had a large enough cast of characters to feel thoroughly and realistically populated - but few enough that I got a good grasp of who they all were. Jahan was a super protagonist - curious, loving and talented. The story was good fun and entertaining, and had a satisfying structure and ending. I loved the depiction of 16th Century Ottoman Istanbul (and other places), and really enjoyed Grant Cartwright’s nuanced and atmospheric narration.

Entertaining and satisfying

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