The Fall of Constantinople

You would think that such a very limited plot in terms of time and location would mean a weaker experience. The opposite is true; it allowed the author to give more space to the main characters and to the description of the anxiety and fear that gradually takes over the city. And into the coming horrors, he set the romantic and very dynamic drama of the main characters (and yes, here too, a woman has a major influence on the protagonist).
Here too, he saved a 'wow' effect for the end regarding the protagonist's mysterious background, and here too, the book is written in an engaging language rich in linguistic devices.
His second-best work, right after The Egyptian.

I admit it took me a while to get through the rambling beginning, which is why I put the book down about twice at first. The third time, however, I let myself be drawn into the story by the wonderfully depicted atmosphere of Constantinople, including the historical context. Although you know from the title how it will end for the city, you keep hoping all the way through.

One of my favourite books by Waltari, and you can rely on this author – rely on him not to just offer you an adventure (or God forbid, a romantic, love) story against a historical backdrop, which (thankfully) leaves you the moment you close the book (often prematurely). The Fall of Constantinople remains etched in the soul. Definitely in mine – perhaps also because that ancient, pre-death agony and ruin of the last remnant of a once-mighty empire is still a reminder to us – no longer Constantinople, but Ottoman Istanbul, it is still Ottoman Istanbul even after hundreds of years.