One of Orhan Pamuk's shortest books, 'The White Castle' is set in 17th century Istanbul, a period of scholarly research and terrifying savagery. It is the story of a young scholar sailing from Venice to Naples, when he is taken in prison by the Ottoman Empire. He becomes a slave to a scholar called Hoja (master). The master and slave both are of the same age and very similar physical resemblance. The slave is asked to instruct the master in western science and technology, everything from medicine to astronomy. The master ponders if, given the knowledge of each other's secrets, can the slave and he exchange their identities. The story has a very imaginative plot coupled with excellent narration.