Cirrus@Austlit

A plot against the imbecilic cruel and corrupt Turkish sultan at the end of the 19th century. The secret Young Turkish party meets and agrees to send a list of supporters to an aide in the palace planning a coup. The son of the party's leader is sent but does not return - though the palace aide flees with the leader's help, revealing that the son has been arrested. The father bribes a prison official to see his son but it is four days before he is taken to the Bosphurous and given a diving suit to walk among a forest of dead weighted bodies waving in the water. He finds his dead son and discovers the list of names undisclosed in the lining of his cloak - destroys it, and returns to the party mourning his son but knowing they are safe. Father-son relationship, and party-leader relationship are strong themes. Very well told adventure tale; the walk beneath the sea is particularly vivid and dream-like. (PB)