The Flea Palace Part 15

Bihruz A fictive character that symbolizes the over-westernized dandy Borek A stuffed pastry or pie containing spinach or feta cheese.

Bulgur Cracked wheat Chibouk Cigarette holder Cintemani An Ottoman ornamental design.

Dede This word has two meanings in Turkish: grandfather and a senior religious person, usually in a tarikat Halva A traditional Turkish sweet made from nuts and honey Hidrellez Turkish festival symbolizing spring and new life, during which women write down their wishes on paper and tie them to red roses Hizma Decorative nose stud Houris of heaven The virgins in heaven.

Jinni/jinn An Islamic term meaning invisible spirit, mentioned in the Qur'an and believed by Muslims to inhabit the earth, influencing mankind by appearing in the form of humans or animals Kader Fortune Katzenjammer Loud noise from various sources; from the German word, meaning anxiety or jitters following intoxication Lodos The famous wind in Istanbul that blows in from the sea and is said to cause dizziness Mezes A variety of small dishes served instead of a main course.

Ney A reed flute played especially in Mawlawi music Oleaster One of several shrubs of the genus Elaegnus with yellow flowers followed by olive-like fruits containing a powdery dust Rak Turkish spirit of aniseed flavour Simit A pastry baked in the shape of a circle with a hole in the centre Tarikat Mystical sisterhoods / brotherhoods of Muslims that were historically separate from the mainstream Zurna A shrill Turkish pipe used to accompany drums.

He just wanted a decent book to read ...

Not too much to ask, is it? It was in 1935 when Allen Lane, Managing Director of Bodley Head Publishers, stood on a platform at Exeter railway station looking for something good to read on his journey back to London. His choice was limited to popular magazines and poor-quality paperbacks the same choice faced every day by the vast majority of readers, few of whom could afford hardbacks. Lane's disappointment and subsequent anger at the range of books generally available led him to found a company and change the world.

We believed in the existence in this country of a vast reading public for intelligent books at a low price, and staked everything on it'

Sir Allen Lane, 19021970, founder of Penguin Books.

The quality paperback had arrived and not just in bookshops. Lane was adamant that his Penguins should appear in chain stores and tobacconists, and should cost no more than a packet of cigarettes.

Reading habits (and cigarette prices) have changed since 1935, but Penguin still believes in publishing the best books for everybody to enjoy.We still believe that good design costs no more than bad design, and we still believe that quality books published pa.s.sionately and responsibly make the world a better place.

So wherever you see the little bird whether it's on a piece of prize-winning literary fiction or a celebrity autobiography, political tour de force or historical masterpiece, a serial-killer thriller, reference book, world cla.s.sic or a piece of pure escapism you can bet that it represents the very best that the genre has to offer.

Whatever you like to read trust Penguin.

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