Museum of Language & Place

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Pigeons in Winter, by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

When I can get beyond the heat, I’m enthralled by this city. What is it about Istanbul? The dirty, gritty tangibility, I think. It’s full of glories, history and beauty, but not just a place for tourists. It makes me feel the way I used to feel about the north of England – the satisfying, rough depth and breadth and contradictions, the bigness and complexity of everything, along with sparkling jewels of detail.

Jean Morris, in Istanbul. “I want to touch this city, and through language, through touching words, I can touch it.”