This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Istanbul
“Stop! Let the coffee water boil / Tell me about Istanbul, how was it?” asks the Anatolian rocker Cem Karaca in his anguished ballad “Always Suffering”.
Karaca, who spent eight years in political exile in the 1980s, implores his companion to “tell me people laughed there”, adding: “I like it, even if it’s a lie.”
The conflict between the romantic image of Istanbul and the myriad struggles of its inhabitants is a theme that runs through many of the books below, which I’ve picked for their accessible routes into Turkey’s history, culture and modern politics. They also offer levity, beauty and some great stories.
Reading them brought back memories of my seven years working in the country as a correspondent.
