Everyone at Cornucopia is immensely saddened to learn that the great John Freely passed away early yesterday morning. We have lost a cherished friend of the Bosphorus, the incomparable bard of old Stamboul, author of more than 50 books, with at least 50 more ready to roll, and one of nature's great raconteurs. John once wrote, 'For me, Istanbul is everything…' He was the Great Stroller of Strolling through Istanbul. We offer his family our heart-felt sympathy for their loss. It is truly the end of an era.
In this photograph by the historian Tony Greenwood, kindly sent to us by the Byzantinist Bob Ousterhout (hat raised), John is seen with his wife, Dolores, with whom he shared a blood pact always to travel, being led out on a late lap of honour of his beloved Land Walls in 2011. Below, he is with his family in 1965, sailing to Naxos, where he spent idyllic summers completing many of his early books (from his memoir The Art of Exile).
It is hard to say goodbye…
Two articles in Cornucopia by Maureen Freely (on the left) give an affectionate portrait of her father and are now available online: Moving Freely and Memories light the corners of my mind.