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Book Review: Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin, translated by John William Baker.

On board the freedom wagon

SET against the background of the war-torn Europe during the Second World War, Last Train to Istanbul by popular Turkish novelist Ayse Kulin has been translated into English by John W Baker.

On board the freedom wagon

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin, translated by John William Baker. Amazon Crossing. Pages 382 Rs 399



Eesha Duggal 

SET against the background of the war-torn Europe during the Second World War, Last Train to Istanbul by popular Turkish novelist Ayse Kulin has been translated into English by John W Baker. It is an international bestseller partially based on the experiences of Turkish bureaucrats. It is a compelling narrative about love (not just essentially romance), family bond and a group of undaunted Turkish diplomats who come to the aid of a couple and hundreds of Jews trapped in the German-occupied France during the war.

Selva and Sabiha, daughters of a prominent retired diplomat, are rich, both in beauty and talent. The peace of their comfortable and fulfilling lives is shattered when Selva falls in love with a Jewish youth Rafael Alfandari and they marry against the wishes of their families. The constant disapproval of their marriage makes Selva and Rafo, as she calls him, move to Marseilles, France, in the hope of a better life. 

Sabiha holds herself responsible for Selva's situation and is overcome by guilt. She also sees the emotional detachment seeping into her marriage with Macit, a high-ranking government employee who mostly remains busy in state affairs. All along, a capricious and coy Sabiha wishes for the well being of her baby sister. 

In Paris, Selva and Rafo and their child Fazil have just started to build a new life for themselves when all hell breaks loose. The Nazis invade France and the Jews are hunted. While Selva remains perpetually worried and anxious for the safety of her husband, back in Turkey, Sabiha insists Macit to ensure that her sister remains untouched in the tensed country. Taking the matter further, some brave Turkish diplomats, shielded by the neutrality of their country in the war, plan the rescue of the couple and other Turkish nationals. As the hostility against the Jews spills onto the roads, humanity beckons and some non-Turkish Jews are secretly issued forged passports. Together, Selva, Rafo, Fazil and a hundred of Turkish and non-Turkish Jews board the last train to Istanbul, traversing through war-ravaged landscapes, surviving multiple security checks and finally reaching the point of freedom. 

The story moves effortlessly, intertwining facts and fiction perfectly. It upholds the ethos of Turkey, its people and their absolute commitment to carry forward the legacy of their country in protecting not just its own citizens, but also others.. and that’s how it dilutes the bitterness that divided communities during the war.

Last Train to Istanbul is so vivid it grips the imagination of the reader. The characters are quite human and evoke empathy. The writer subtly manages to leave many questions, arising out of the emotionally charged characters, unanswered, which only makes one stay hooked. Even as the book ends, some part of each character remains with the reader. This book is something to cherish for a long, long time.

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