Chapters 1-4 Summary

My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk is a historical novel translated from Turkish by Erdağ M. Göknar and set in late 16th century Istanbul. Black returns to Istanbul to help his uncle with a secret book, written by Enishte. As he attempts to solve a murder related to the provocative book and win the love of his beautiful cousin, a conflict between art and religion intensifies. My Name is Red is both a mystery and a love story amidst a religious world, where illustrations are both feared and valued.

The soul of Elegant describes his atrocious murder and his condition as a soul in limbo. He thinks of the wonders he experienced and has often illustrated, but he cannot view the wonders of Heaven or even tell us much about the Hereafter until his body is properly buried. Elegant...