Before present-day Izmir came to be, it was the Greek city of Smyrna, a prosperous metropolitan city in which many cultures lived and integrated peacefully. However, during the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire at the end of WWI, the city was engulfed in flames and thousands upon thousands of residents were killed. The Silence of Scheherazade by Defne Suman follows the events told through the eyes of four families – Levantine French, Turkish, Greek, and Armenian – that detail the unique experiences of the city’s inhabitants in the years leading up to the turmoil. 

The Silence of Scheherazade is a historical fiction novel – the Great Fire of Smyrna is a historical event, so no spoilers leading the way (unless you need to brush up on your history and geography). Hence, history-savvy readers will progress through the various storylines more easily. But what makes the story worth the while is seeing Smyrna life through the eyes of the aforementioned families. 

Scheherazade is the narrator of the story, yet chooses only to speak to the reader (other characters know she her as a mute). However, the point of view switches between the four perspectives – Edith Lamarck (a privileged Levantine French woman), Sumnul (Turkish woman), Meline (an Armenian midwife), and Panagiota (a Greek teenager). Given that these four viewpoints are all from the different cultures that were prominent in Smyrna at the time, readers get a unique mix of opinions, perspectives, and effects that the military and political conflicts had on these different communities. 

Suman did a lot of research to put this story together and even traveled to Izmir to explore first-hand the region that is the focus of her book. The impending doom of what is to come of Smyrna seems almost like a side-plot at times, as the storylines focus on the lives of the aforementioned characters and their families. Readers get wrapped up in the excitement of being a teenager and talking to the boy you like, of falling in love with a young handsome foreigner, and helping a new life come into the world. Readers should also know that Suman does not shy away from the heartbreaking realities of these histories – trigger warnings include murder, rape, stillbirth, child loss, suicide, racism, war, and more.

The Silence of Scheherazade is Defne Suman’s first English translation novel. The novel was originally written in Turkish, so it’s understandable that some storylines and transitions did not flow as naturally as they might have in the original language. Suman’s writing is descriptive and elegant – I could easily picture the sights, smells, sounds, and more of the vibrant ancient city. However, the story jumps back and forth between timelines and main or secondary characters, with a plethora of other characters who distracted me from the main viewpoints and plots. It was hard to keep track of everyone mentioned, and to remember which year the story was in at the point of reading. 

Lastly, I have no historical knowledge or familiarity with Greece, Turkey, the city of Smyrna, or how the events affected any of those nations and its people at the time. Therefore, I had a bit more difficulty following along and couldn’t truly appreciate the significance of some conversations or observations made by characters. Yet, I imagine history buffs or skilled researchers will not have the same problem if they dive into this book. 

Overall, I recommend this book. Mostly it is beautifully written and tugs at the heartstrings. You want to be happy and excited for the characters at times, until you remember that the worst is yet to come. It is slow to begin, but patient readers are rewarded the further they progress through the novel. Fans of historical fiction will definitely enjoy this one. 

Defne Suman joined us for a Cantina Conversation, where we discussed the research involved when writing this story, her experience with translating her book for the first time, and where she got the idea for Scheherazade’s character. Keep an ear out for an upcoming episode of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and pick up a copy of The Silence of Scheherazade, available now.