Istanbul in the shadow of Abdülhamid II… A magnificent mansion, a magnificent family – the reign of the descendants of Silahtar Ali Pasha is shaken by the unexpected death of the grandmother. As the grandchildren scatter to their homes, the walls of the mansion begin to silently decay.

In the Chronology, Inheritance is considered to be the author’s first novel; however, it is full of many complications such as the difficulties during its publication and the interruption of the review. Esendal’s 38-part review in the newspaper “Meslek” could not be completed; the story, just like the division of inheritance, was left in limbo.

This novel describes the physical and spiritual collapse of a family, not through vibrating dialogues, but through the musty smell in the silence of an abandoned mansion. The disintegration of the big family, the greed for inheritance, betrayal, negligence – all melting into one pot. Young Asım comes from Sarayköy to the heart of Istanbul; his goal is to take over a mill, figuratively and literally. However, he is torn between his love Salime and his inheritance. Where will the game lead and how will it end? Fate is as fragile as the disintegrating family; the final pages are incomplete, but even that incompleteness strengthens the mystery of the novel.

In this novel, Memduh Şevket Esendal describes not only a family, but an era, a city and a soul. With his style rising from the ruins of a mansion, he carries the subtle atmosphere of old Istanbul and the sadness of lost values to today.

“What a sad state the mansion took as it became empty! A pungent musty smell emanated from the empty and curtainless rooms, from the uncovered cushions…” – From Heritage

For readers who long for traditional family novels and want to embellish them with a retrospective Istanbul magic…