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The Eunuch of Stamboul
This story concerns a young Englishman, Swithin Destime, who, to avoid an international incident, had resigned from the Army; within weeks he was in Istanbul to check on rumours of a planned uprising.
But as a spy Destime was an amateur, alone in a city of intrigue and fear, a dark web in whose centre squatted the repulsive form of Kazdim Hari Bekar.
Formerly a Palace eunuch, Kazdim was now Chief of the Secret Police – a job which admirably suited his depraved personal tastes....
But as a spy Destime was an amateur, alone in a city of intrigue and fear, a dark web in whose centre squatted the repulsive form of Kazdim Hari Bekar.
Formerly a Palace eunuch, Kazdim was now Chief of the Secret Police – a job which admirably suited his depraved personal tastes....
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
4 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
381 books248 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 21, 2020
Loved Dennis Wheatley from age 12 when I scared myself by reading the Black Magic omnibus. 3 of his satanic novels. Some years ago I bought a number of his books as a collection on eBay. Finally started reading them. Like going back in time to a non PC world of rich people with strange names. This book saw Swithin Destime avert a revolution in Turkey and get the girl. Fast pace, some improbable coincidences but who cares. An enjoyable read
May 28, 2013
A story packed with excitement and suspense. Read it a long time ago. The tale of an Englishman who is involved in an international action meant to prevent the plot against the Turkish government. I enjoyed it a lot.
October 10, 2012
Wheatley at his best with an exciting non-stop adventure in exotic locations.
September 5, 2018
I thought this might be a fascinating insight into Attaturk Istanbul and while to an extent this is true with Wheatley peppering his tale with geographic and political tidbits ultimately it grates on the modern reader.
Like a lot of the protagonists at the time the book was written the plucky ex-military hero is completely ignorant of women and stumbles around them oscillating between praising their looks and marvelling at their feminine brainpower.
The swarthy hordes of native Turks fare worse. They're either fiendishly evil but dimwitted, corrupt, or well-meaning fools easily persuaded to see the error of their ways by our so-white hero.
So, in all an interesting period read.
Like a lot of the protagonists at the time the book was written the plucky ex-military hero is completely ignorant of women and stumbles around them oscillating between praising their looks and marvelling at their feminine brainpower.
The swarthy hordes of native Turks fare worse. They're either fiendishly evil but dimwitted, corrupt, or well-meaning fools easily persuaded to see the error of their ways by our so-white hero.
So, in all an interesting period read.
January 31, 2024
Read it for my class about Spy cinema with a focus on the Middle East and South Asian cultures. Was a fairly interesting/quick read to introduce a lot of the tropes and stereotypes of the genre.
September 14, 2022
Campy. Spies running around Stamboul intercepting each other's messages. The eunuch is always listening behind the door. He is troped as evil. And super fat. Usually we are reminded of both at the same time. He doesn't do anything except smoke cigarettes and kill people and doesn't have much backstory. I talked about this in a long blog post (with plot spoilers!) on Disruptive Dissertation.
October 8, 2016
The story of an inept newbie spy, which becomes increasingly farcical and melodramatic as the chapters pass. Wheatley does however have a refreshingly modern and no-nonsense perspective on the capability of women and on sexual issues, which make the otherwise rather dull tale more attractive.
August 19, 2014
A Dennis Wheatley book can't ever be rated below that. Try it out to find why.
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January 9, 2015One of many books from this book club and this author. Not sure when I finished this, but guessing 1975
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews