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Harem wins five stars for book design, and only one for content. Alev Lyttle Croutier obviously spent a tremendous amount of time finding artwork to illustrate her book. However, most of the paintings that she selected are elaborate European orientalist fantasies of Haram life and not actual historicaly relevant pieces. Perhaps Ms. Croutier should have spent a little more time researching her topic. Aside from some pretty staggaring historical mistakes and gross generalizations about Islam, the book contains very little usefull information for scholars. Most of Haram: World Behind the Viel focuses on a single royal Turkish Haram - with very little cross-cultural analysis. If you are interested in orientalist art or detailed descriptions of eunich castration than this is the book for you, but if you are looking for actual scholarship - look elsewhere.

"Harem"--beautifully and imaginatively illustrated--perpetuates the western myths about the Muslim harem, the women's quarters of the household, whether luxurious or shabby. Readers should recognize that few of the glorious illustrations, most of which show European women in various states of elaborate undress, have anything to do with the reality of the sultan's harem, the truth of which has been filtered through the eyes of western travelers who could never have been omitted to the harem. This is a not a scholarly account, by any means, but a wide-ranging collection of fascinating images.

A beautiful, well written book, richly illustrated with paintings by Ingres, Sargent, and Lewis, as well as traditional Turkish woodcuts & miniatures. Croutier takes an intimate look at an obscure subject, making for a fascinating read. All aspects of harem life, from eunuchs to the elaborate bathing rituals, are detailed, with the gorgeous color plates enhancing the experience. Definitely a book you will remember.

The book was fun and easy to read, in a very well presented format with a lot of colorful pictures. However, it is very "light weight" if you are really into history.

HAREM is the most important book about the role of eastern women written and available in the western world. It should be required reading for every young person interested in the deep meaning behind the tradition. Richly illustrated both by image and by historical example.