My Name is Red
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk, published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2001, is a literary work that intricately weaves together elements of a murder mystery and a love story set against the backdrop of sixteenth-century Istanbul. The narrative unfolds as the Sultan commissions a grand book to celebrate his reign, prompting a group of talented artists to illuminate it in a European style. However, the project poses significant risks due to the potential religious implications of figurative art, leading to tension and intrigue within the elite circle of artists.
Readers will encounter a tale filled with suspense as one of the miniaturists mysteriously disappears, prompting the Sultan to demand answers within a tight timeframe. The half-finished illuminations serve as the only clues to unraveling the mystery, raising questions about jealousy and the consequences of artistic expression in a repressive society. My Name is Red explores themes of art, religion, and power, inviting readers into a complex world where personal and political stakes intertwine. This first edition spans 417 pages and is presented in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
From one of the most important and acclaimed writers at work today, a thrilling new novel–part murder mystery, part love story–set amid the perils of religious repression in sixteenth-century Istanbul.
When the Sultan commissions a great book to celebrate his royal self and his extensive dominion, he directs Enishte Effendi to assemble a cadre of the most acclaimed artists in the land. Their task: to illuminate the work in the European style. But because figurative art can be deemed an affront to Islam, this commission is a dangerous proposition indeed, and no one in the elite circle can know the full scope or nature of the project.
Panic erupts when one of the chosen miniaturists disappears, and the Sultan demands answers within three days. The only clue to the mystery–or crime?–lies in the half-finished illuminations themselves. Has an avenging angel discovered the blasphemous work? Or is a jealous contender for the hand of Enishte’s ravishing daughter, the incomparable Shekure, somehow to blame?
Orhan Pamuk’s My Name Is Red is at once a fantasy and a philosophical puzzle, a kaleidoscopic journey to the intersection of art, religion, love, sex, and power.
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