Three related stories, anchored in one room of Istanbul's famous Pera Palas hotel, weave through three timelines that span the 20th century. In 1920, an English writer arrives at " The Queen of Cities," and becomes a guest at a royal harem. In 1950, a young American teacher falls in love with an idealistic and charming Turk. In 1995, a gay expatriate comes home to introduce his American lover to his troubled family. A gateway between east and west, Islam and Christianity, past and present, the hotel stands as a bridge between cultures. "Hugely ambitious, PERA PALAS engages the mind and grips the emotions... Its three intertwined stories embrace no less than the destiny of a nation, the liberation of women and the fate of lovers... PERA PALAS pulses with passion and questing intelligence." - The New York Times