A captivating detailed account of Turkey, as well as a picture of Turkish society of 1880s. the author offers an insightful, beautiful and even humorous descriptions of Turkish culture, customs, politics, diplomacy, wit and humor, the Sultan, religion, minority groups, the Jews of Turkey, harems, eunuch, slavery, marriage, the Balkans, Romania, Servia, Bulgaria, etc. The first part of this volume concerns a sojourn of the Author among the diplomats of the Upper and Lower Bosporus, and his observations in and around the city. The second part undertakes to deal with the ever-recurring Eastern question. Recent events in Asia, Africa and Europe, especially in Egypt, Armenia, Bulgaria and East Roumelia, give to this discussion an interest worthy of statesman-like study. By Samuel Sullivan Cox, a nineteenth century American Congressman and diplomat, and United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1885 to 1887.