Roxelana (English Edition)

“Roxelana” is a historical novel by Ukrainian writer Osyp Nazaruk, first published in 1930, yet still considered the best work about Hürrem Sultan. The book was forbidden in the Ukrainian SSR and returned to the readers only after Ukraine gained independence in 1991. Nazaruk put a lot of effort into creating his book. He read old Polish, German, Latin sources about the Ottoman empire and Roxelana, studied Quran, books on medieval philosophers, old maps of Istanbul, legends and travellers' accounts. He added copious footnotes to explain many of the facts and traditions of that era. Throughout the book the author describes Roxelana though the prism of her Ukrainian nationality, raises the problems of religious intolerance, slave trade in Europe, occupation, oppression.
The book has never been translated into English before.
Author's notes and afterward, translator's notes.
Table of Contents.
I. Horrifying wedding.
II. Oh by Kylyjim paved highway, oh by Horde's wild fields...
III. In the land of Tatar auls.
IV. In Crimea.
V. In a slave school in a terrible town of Kaffa.
VI. Into an unknown future.
VII. In Constantinople, on Avret bazaar.
VIII. A servant in the Sultan palace.
IX. And the slave's struggle with the ruler of the three parts of the world began.
X. In the park of Yildiz kiosk.
XI. The first pilgrimage of Roxelana.
XII. “And two weddings and one husband...”
XIII. Birthday of the first son of Roxelana.
XIV. “And red blood on your tiny hands...”
XV. Sultana Misafir.
XVI. God Almighty.
XVII. Jihad.
XVIII. Roxelana's hajj.