Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq (1522–1592)

Fascinating glimpse of the 1500's through these letters of a European writing about the 'turk'. It seems to me Ogier took great pains to identify the things in the culture that he saw as good, advantageous, better than what he knew. He was very open to admiration.

I was a bit disappointed with this book. I expected more detail, more insight and facts. Instead I found it repetitive and self indulging. I think this man must have been quite an odd duck.

Breve fra Busbecq som var belgisk og var Østrigungarsk udsending i Osmanner Riget der sender breve med træsnit af en vis Melchior fra Slesvig. Meget populært i 16. århundrede. Beskriver Suleimans tid og det tyrkiske rige. Sjovt at læse om tyrkernes respekt for papir og rosenblade. Deres modehold og militaristiske facon. Spartanere. Korruption, overtro, religiøse men ikke radikale. Drikker med glæde og i store mængder, når de finder gratis vin. Meget aggressiv udenrigspolitik og show more arrogant holdning til Vesten. Brodermord som institution blandt de kongelige. show less