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by Raphael Amadore (Author)
Suleyman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, has a harem of three hundred beautiful concubines. His soul and eyes desire only one; the one who makes him a poet. Only one makes him long for her every touch. What is her aphrodisiac?
Roxelana, known as Hurrem-The Cheerful One in the harem has a brilliant mind within her irresistible body. She holds a 75 year old secret that could sow seeds of destruction in the Ottoman Sultanate; a secret granted her by none other than the Sultan's own mother. What is this secret curse?
What power does Roxelana wield over Suleyman that he would break tradition and make her queen? Is it simply love or something more that tempts the Sultan? Why does she learn the ancient art of Kama Sutra from an Indian princess in the harem and then send Suleyman to war? And why would the Sultan's mother entrust the great secret to a mere harem girl?
Rich with eroticism of the harem and the twisting, intrigues of the empire ruled from Topkapi palace, Harem Secrets creates embroidery of compelling plots since the fall of Constantinople. At the height of power, two figures change world history in Europe and Asia; history that was later influenced through a legendary harem dancer, Anarkali of Ottoman origins. Her mystery continues into the Palaces of Mogul emperors.
Author Biography
A detective in the world of finance, Raphael Amadore applies his passion of history to hidden secrets of the Ottoman Empire. In Istanbul, he researches obscure notes by sixteenth century court historians. Amongst buried books and archaeological ruins, he finds evidence of later Ottomans, Sultan Suleyman's unmentioned progeny. Forensically sifting through artifacts he finds a peculiar linkage between the Ottoman and Mogul Empires.
Tracing obscure remarks by an inebriated Venetian sailor to a Portuguese trader, Amadore finds clues of a harem concubine, gifted by an Ottoman sultan to Emperor Akbar, of the Mogul Empire in India. She was Anarkali, the dancer who captures the heart of Prince Salim. Raphael Amadore skillfully unwraps Anarkali's history. She resurfaced when Prince Salim, later Emperor Jahangir, ascends the throne. Her descendants exist today!
The curse on Ottoman Sultans thus passes on through the legendary Anarkali to the palaces of the Mogul Empire. This legend persists.
