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
Rakι 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
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First published in Turkey as Bit Palas by Metis Yayinlari in 2002
First published in Great Britain and in the USA by Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd in 2004
Published in Penguin Books 2010
Copyright © Elif Shafak, 2004, 2005
This translation copyright © from the Turkish by Müge Göçek, 2004
The moral right of the author and of the translator has been asserted
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-0-14-196137-8
* ‘Allah bas, baqiya hawas’ means ‘God is strength, the rest is folly’ and Ottoman cel sulus script is a historical Turkish script of the Ottoman Empire.
* It is believed that the Trumpet of Israfil will be heard on the Day of Judgement.
* Meryem means Mary in Turkish and ‘Meryem, Musa, Muhammet’ is a trilogy referring to the three monotheist religions (Mary, Moses and Muhammet are the names of the family members).
* According to the Muslim faith, in order to create the universe Allah uttered ‘BE!’
Elif Shafak, The Flea Palace
(Series: # )
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