A sweeping journey through the heart of a legendary city.
This beautifully restored special edition of Constantinople brings back to life one of the greatest English-language studies ever written on the imperial city. Across nearly 600 pages and two originally separate volumes (1895 and 1900), Edwin A. Grosvenor offers a vivid, deeply engaging portrait of the city that once stood at the crossroads of empires.
Organized first by chronological political history and then by thematic explorations, this work blends narrative history with the richness of archaeology, art history, architecture, and urban development. Grosvenor examines how power, religion, art, and everyday life shaped the physical city, from its monumental structures to the narrow streets that evolved over centuries.
Inside, readers will find:
Striking chapters on the city’s mythology, culture, and topography
Detailed studies of major mosques, monuments, and landmarks
Rare photographs and illustrations that bring the past into focus
An extraordinary synthesis of scholarship, insight, and storytelling
Upon publication, the book was hailed as a triumph:
“The most important treatise that has yet appeared in English.” — Springfield Republican
“One of the books of the year.” — The New York Times
Presented here as a high-quality modern edition, Constantinople remains an essential work for lovers of history, travelers, Byzantinists, Ottomanists, and anyone captivated by one of the world’s most storied cities.
A masterpiece of historical writing — now accessible again for a new generation of readers.
