"A brilliant and concise monograph that approaches Ottoman modernity from a socio-legal perspective and through a specific case study of the Nizamiye courts. . . Rubin thrillingly challenges the Islamic/secular dichotomy that is the standard interpretive prism of Ottoman legal and institutional studies. He offers a very interesting and appealing alternative means of analysing Ottoman modernity: the framework of legal ... Read morepluralism. . . [He] builds his argumentation on a rich and varied bibliography that is full of inspiring hints and guides directions for further research.' - Comparative Legal History "This book will stand for many years as the first place to go for information on the Nizamiye. At the same time, its discussion of the religious/secular duality issue will have an effect on historical and political science scholarship. No historian looking for the realities of nineteenth century Ottoman modernization will easily posit a secular/religious duality after reading this book." - Jon Mandaville, Emeritus Professor of History, Portland State University Show Less