The Red-Haired Woman (Turkish 2016, English 2018) By Orhan Pamuk

In many ways Orhan Pamuk’s most recent book, The Red-Haired Woman, reminds readers of his many other works, in a good way, not an “I’ve read this before” sense.  But it is also different in two noticeable ways: it’s relatively short (253 pages), and it’s a suspenseful page-turner. I’ll try not to provide any spoilers.

The book is of course set in Istanbul and its ever sprawling metropolis.  The lead character, named Cem, enters the story as a 16-year old boy spending his summer as a well-digger’s apprentice, working to save enough money to attend “cram school” in advance of his university application.  During this job, in the town of Ongoren on the outskirts of the city, he will meet and become obsessed with a traveling theater actress with red hair, the book’s title character. 

Before the well-digging job, and then again while a university student, Cem works in a bookstore.  I mention this because he is clearly well read, which will play a significant role in the book’s plot. 

Cem was for all practical purposes, raised by his mother.  His father was a political leftist who tended to “disappear” for months/years on end and would be imprisoned for a number of years. Because of this, the welldigger he was apprenticing for, Master Mahmut, would become somewhat of a father figure to him.

After University, Cem will marry and with his wife -- not the red-haired woman -- start a construction company that will make them rich as new buildings go up to meet Istanbul’s relentless population growth. The couple will be childless, socially separating them from many of their longtime friends, but giving them ample opportunity to travel and study.  Cem has, and his wife soon develops, a deep intellectual interest in two great works of literature: Oedipus from Greek mythology, and its Persian counterpart Shahnameh.

To explore their literary interest, Pamuk writes a chapter that takes them to the manuscript Library on the grounds of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood.  One of the many reasons I love Pamuk’s books is because of his innate ability to capture the essence of “place” in words.  His writings, particularly Memoirs of the City, are what convinced me to vacation in Istanbul a couple of years ago.  The Topkapi Palace, and its library, are places visited on that vacation.

About two-thirds of the way through the book, the suspense comes rushing at you when Cem decides to visit the small town where he worked as Master Mahmut’s apprentice 30-years prior, and first met the Red-Haired Woman.  Without presenting a spoiler, I can go no further.

Recommendation:  Absolutely. 

Manuscript Library at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul