The Loneliest Brain in the World

“A must-read.” Müjdat Gezen
“An extraordinary and eccentric novel.” Prof. Onur Bilge Kula
“Too breathlessly read and too stunningly beautiful to be an author’s fiction…” Sırrı Süreyya Önder
“Historical novels are difficult to write in terms of the way they attract non-literary discussions. Despite all its political weight, On the Tiger’s Back overcame this difficulty to become the most literary Livaneli novel.” Burhan Sönmez - Pen International

“A magnificent work…” Özdem Sanberk
“The story of a 'man' who 'lost himself' when he got off the 'tiger'.” Burak Soyer
More than a century after his dethronement, the most interesting phase of the life of Abdulhamid II comes to light through Livaneli’s contemporary narrative. The deposed sultan’s days in Thessaloniki, where revolutionary ideas flourished, are both an examination of conscience and an intense psychological tidal wave.
Zülfü Livaneli, the generational link of Turkish literature, focuses on the experiences of Abdülhamid II after he lost his throne, while blending a fluent style with a linguistic flavor that brings the reader closer to the atmosphere and mindset of the period. In this narrative where history and fiction are intertwined, Abdülhamid II gets off the tiger's back and tries to defend himself like all novel heroes.