In this book, Anna Bowman Dodd provides readers with a rare look into the lives of women in the Ottoman Empire, focusing on the inner workings of the sultan's palace. Through her vivid descriptions, Dodd illuminates the beauty and intrigue of the palace, as well as the lives of the women who lived within its walls. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Ottoman Empire, as well as gender and women's studies.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.