Faber lands latest novel from 'master storyteller' Pamuk

Faber has acquired Nights of Plague, the new "enthralling and dramatic" novel by former Nobel Prize-winner Orhan Pamuk, translated from Turkish by Ekin Oklap.

Alex Bowler acquired UK and Commonwealth rights excluding the Philippines, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh, and including audio, from Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency.

A historical epic of murder and mystery, myth-making and nation-building, the novel opens in 1901 on a ship approaching the Ottoman Empire.

The synopsis states: "1901. Night draws in. With the stealth of a spy vessel, the royal ship ’Azizye’ approaches the famous vistas of Mingheria. ‘An emerald build of pink stone.’ The 29th state of the ailing Ottoman Empire. The ship carries Princess Pakize, the daughter of a deposed sultan, her doctor husband, and the royal chemist, Bonkowski Pasha. Each of them holds a separate mission. 

"Not all of them will survive the weeks ahead. Because Mingheria is on the cusp of catastrophe. There are rumours of plague — rumours some in power will try to suppress. But plague is not the only killer. Soon, the eyes of the world will turn to this ancient island, where the future of a fragile empire is at stake, in an epic and playful mystery of passion, fear, scandal and murder."

Bowler said: "Enthralling and dramatic, Nights of Plague is a landmark work from one of history’s master storytellers. It will delight Orhan’s English-language readers the world over, and win him thousands more."

Pamuk has written both fiction and non-fiction books, in addition to photography collections. In 2003 he won the IMPAC prize for My Name is Red (Faber), and in 2006 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Oklap was born in Turkey, and grew up in Italy. She translates from Turkish and Italian, and currently lives in London. As a translator, she was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker International Prize.

Publication is scheduled for 22nd September 2022.