Silent House

In Orhan Pamuk's previously unpublished second novel, "Silent House," a Turkish family gathers at their dilapidated mansion in Cennethisar, just before the military coup of 1980. As widow Fatma awaits her grandchildren’s visit, tensions simmer between her and her devoted servant Recep, who harbors deep grievances linked to their shared past. Amidst the gathering, her grandchildren—each grappling with their own aspirations and political beliefs—reflect the complexities of a nation on the brink of upheaval, as they become entangled in the growing political turmoil of Turkey's pursuit of modernity. Infused with humor, poignancy, and tension, this narrative showcases Pamuk's early narrative brilliance and presages his later acclaim.