Jean Antoine Guer hiç bir zaman Doğu'ya seyahat etmedi. Bu eseri P. Belon, J.J. Grelot, O. G. Busbecq, P. Ricaut, Benoît de Maillet, J. Pitton de Tournefort, J. Tavernier, J. Thévenot ve başkalarının kitaplarından metinler, bilgiler ve kısmen resim konuları kullanarak yazar. Kitabın ilk bölümünde özet halinde Türklerin ve Osmanlı padişahlarının tarihini yazar. Daha sonraki bölümler Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda devlet idaresi ve kurumlar, ordu, saray, politika, din ve törenler, insanların karakteri, kıyafetler, beslenme alışkanlıkları, evler, kadınlar, örf ve adetler gibi konulara ayrılmıştır. Guer kitabında Osmanlılardan başka Hristiyanlar, Araplar gibi başka nüfus azınlıklarına ilişkin konulara hiç değinmez. Birinci cildin sonunda o devrin Avrupalı hükümdarlarını kaydeden bir liste yer almaktadır. Sözkonusu kitap metne eşlik eden çarpıcı resimler sayesinde önem kazandı .

Yazan: İoli Vingopoulou

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  Turkish funeral in Istanbul.

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  Bostancıbaşı, head gardener and executioner, in ceremonial dress.

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  Ottoman butcher feeds street cats.

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  View of the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

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  View of Istanbul.

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  The Ottoman Sultan.

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  The Grand Vizier.

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  The Janissary corp overthrows Sultan Osman II.

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  Frontispiece of the first volume of the book. Ottoman official presents his compliments to the Sultan.

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  Sultan Mehmet II decides upon the execution of his wife Irene.

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  Hellespont and the Sea of Marmara.

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  Turkish wedding.

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  Frontispiece of the second volume of the book: The Sultan's enthronement.

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  Women at a public bath (hamam).

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  The Haseki Sultana at her quarters (Harem).

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  Kizlar Agası, head of the eunuchs of the Sultan's palace.

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  The Mufti of Istanbul.

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  Başçavuş, head of the ushers in the Sultan's palace.

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  Kapıcıbaşı, head of ceremonies in the Sultan's palace.

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  The niche from which the Sultan secretly watched the caucus of the Divan, the higher governmental body. Here, the Sultan is coming out to intervene.

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  Executions by impalement and gaunching.

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  Ottoman Sultan.

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  The Aga of the Janissaries.

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  Spahi, cavalry soldier.

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  Kapudan Paşa, admiral of the Ottoman fleet.

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  Helvacı, chief confectioner in the Sultan's palace.

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  A ciğerci, Ottoman liver seller, feeds street cats.

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  Soldiers about to strangle a captive (probably Prince Osman II).

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  Servant offering sweets to woman of the Harem.

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  Tamerlane imprisons Sultan Beyazid I.

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  Turks doing their prayers.

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  Ottoman sitting at the table.

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  Sakka, itinerant water seller.

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  Woman of the Harem playing a string instrument.

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  Title page of the first volume of the book.

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  Frontispiece: Author's dedication to Louis de Machault d'Arnouville, archbishop of Amiens.

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  Imaginary representation: An official is asking a favor from the Sultan.

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  Ottoman lady smoking.

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  An imam in front of a royal mosque.

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  Dervish.

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  Monk of the Ednemi order and Muslim priest.

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  Woman reposing.

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  Woman reading.

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  Title page of the second volume of the book.

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  Scene from Ottoman campaign.

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  Turkish woman playing the qanun.

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  Turkish women playing mangala.

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  Ottoman officials submit their compliments to the Sultan.

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  Prince Mustafa assassinated in the campaign tent of his father, Suleiman I, who is present (on the left), encouraging moreover the assassinators.

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  Ottoman official, perhaps the Sultan himself, marches to the mosque.

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  Emir.

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  Scene at the Harem.