Before He Was Red

Amid the political turbulence of the summer of three sultans, a Belgian woman and the future Sultan Abdul Hamid II secretly marry. Weeks later he deposes his brother to ascend the throne, and she vanishes without a trace.

With emotional depth and a propulsive plot, Before He Was Red reimagines this forgotten but pivotal episode in the history of the Ottoman Empire. On the eve of a loveless marriage, glove maker Flora Cordier rescues a stranger from Ottoman troops. She is unaware he is Prince Hamid, second in line to the throne, risking death for a single night of freedom. Their meeting sparks a forbidden love and a shared dream of self-determination.

We follow five converging lives — Flora, Hamid, Perestu (the ambitious stepmother), Murad (the volatile brother-turned-rival), and Reshid (a Jewish dervish-tutor hardwired to survive) — as their lives intertwine with the political conspiracies and colonial rivalries that drive Hamid’s rise to power.

Atmospheric, rich in political intrigue and subversive love, this sweeping work of historical fiction and epic romance brings a vanished world vividly to life. Before He Was Red will captivate readers of Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle with its high emotional stakes and pursuit of freedom, and enthral fans of James Clavell’s Shōgun with its cinematic scope, court intrigue, and immersive, little-known history. Perfect for book clubs, it offers a powerful story of love, freedom, and belonging in the shadow of empire. Inspired by true events and real characters that history has all but forgotten.

Endorsements

2026 IPPY Awards silver medalist — Historical Fiction Romance

Editor’s Choice — Historical Novel Society

"In-depth research coupled with fluid prose and a deeply engaging storyline makes this a fabulous read. Brava!" — Anna Belfrage, Historical Novel Society

"A richly researched novel that brings a pivotal moment in Ottoman history vividly to life." — Doga Ozturk, Historian and Writer, Ottoman Encounters

"Historical fiction that captivates and moves the reader from start to finish." — Reedsy Discovery