Katre-i Matem

The novel begins as the story of a manuscript book bought from an auction. Readers enter through the door opened by this manuscript book, traveling in an impressive and fascinating atmosphere created by Iskender Pala, on the trail of the tulip that gave its name to an era.

Istanbul in this novel, its chaos, excitement, riots, It is covered in tulips with its crowd. So much so that the tulip is not just a flower, it surrounds Istanbul and even the entire Ottoman Empire as a way of life, an aesthetic attitude, and a cultural and historical accumulation. Istanbul, along with all its natural beauties and historical splendor of its architectural masterpieces, is adorned with tulip festivals, tulip races, and tulip poems; The city of tulips, the city of colors, turns into the city of leaves.

Iskender Pala describes the painful and Ottoman situations of love that can be met and cannot be satisfied, that cannot be reunited and burns with all the suffering in Istanbul, where he decorated tulips with his master pen in Katre-i Grief. and explains it with enthusiasm. The novel, which tells the adventure of Şahin, who lost his beloved on the first night of their love, goes to ashtrays, tomruks, lalezars and even the Ottoman palace to solve the mystery behind this loss. This journey confronts the reader with unexpected adventures in unexpected places.

Events that become increasingly mysterious with the shadow of the murders begin to unravel with the burning political turmoil of the Patrona Halil Rebellion, which brought an end to the Tulip Era.

At this moment when I dip my pen into the inkwell - I am dying for Damat Ibrahim Pasha from Nevsehir; Sultan III. It has only been two weeks since the hellish April-September Revolution that dethroned Ahmet - I am undecided whether to write about the events I witnessed. I do not know. In a way, the things I think I need to write will put the weight of a betrayal on my conscience, such as revealing state secrets. On the other hand, I will make comments about the tulip, the sacred flower of Sark, and maybe I will offend the Sukufeciyan tradesmen. But if someone does not tell about the brave Prince Ahmet, the deeds of the despicable rebels, the heaven-like Istanbul and the elegance that Sadabat added to the tulip, this would be considered unfair to history and the city.

 (From the Promotional Bulletin)

Cover : Utku Lomlu

First Printing Year: 2009

Number of Prints: 25. Printing

Number of Pages: 480

Size: 13.5x19.5

Language :Turkish