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A Court at Constantinople
by Anthony Earth
GENRE: Historical fiction
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/29/2023
DESCRIPTION:
Under coercion, James Bingham, an English barrister, joins the British Supreme Consular Court at Constantinople in 1859. Osman Mehmed, a Turkish law student, loathes the court, but the Ottoman government orders him to work with it on legal reform. Angry about injustices that women suffer, Rosamund Colborne initiates a relationship with James to escape a grim future dictated by her ruthless father.
The court’s cases and the courtship’s twists intertwine the fates of Mehmed, James, and Rosamund and force each to question what love and justice mean. With the Ottoman and British empires increasingly at odds, power, prejudice, and passions endanger the court, the heart’s desires, and the relationship between the European and Islamic civilizations.
At this precarious moment, a brutal crime threatens to destroy what law and affection have created. The trial reveals shocking secrets, and its violent end rouses courage by Rosamund, James, and Mehmed to see justice done and love prevail.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Anthony Earth is an international lawyer and foreign policy expert. He has advised governments, international organizations, and companies all over the world. He has written extensively on legal and political issues and has recently delved into outer space law and policy.
Anthony is a first-generation American, born to British parents in the Texas panhandle and raised on the plains of Kansas. He studied political science and English literature at the University of Kansas, earned graduate degrees in international relations and law at the University of Oxford, and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
A Court at Constantinople is his first novel.
REVIEWS:
”The skillfully composed narrative ambles slowly through its setting, painting a powerful portrait of a time and place, but then it picks up speed as it rockets to an explosive conclusion. A historically engaging … read, with fine courtroom drama and a few surprises.”—Kirkus Reviews
The “characters are richly imagined and skillfully accomplished. The underlying themes–the quest for justice and love–are brilliantly written. . . . This book features strong historical elements, a compelling and original premise, enigmatic characters, and an intriguing setting . . . A Court at Constantinople won my heart!“—The Book Commentary
“A brilliant exploration of imperialism, society’s expectations of women, and the dangers of prejudice–issues that feel as relevant today as they were a century and a half ago.” — Reedsy Discovery
CASTING:
James Bingham (Tom Holland); Rosamund Colborne (Millie Bobby Brown); Osman Mehmed (Cem Yigit Uzümoglu)
PRIMARY VENUES/LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BOOK:
London (first chapter); Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (rest of the book)
BOOK EXCERPT:
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