Plot Summary

Ka returns to Kars (Turkey) after political exile in Germany and pretends to be a journalist.

Reunites with Ipek. Her father is the owner of the hotel where Ka is staying.

Ipek and Ka witness murder of the Director of the Institute of Education by a Muslim extremist.

Ka has first run in with police. Ka questioned, Muhtar beaten. Ka begins to write poetry again.

Led to Blue (Kadife’s lover and an Muslim radical) by religious student Necip who later dies in the theater. Coup starts.

Coup cannot be stopped because of snow and Ka is sent to Blue to tell him he will get a paper to denounce coup if Blue can get support from non-Islamists.

Turget Bey attends meeting to create a statement denouncing the coup to send to European press.

Blue taken by Nationalists and Ka strikes deal with Sunay Zaim to release Blue if Kadife bears her head on stage.

Ka discovers that Ipek and Blue had a relationship and becomes jealous.

Ka is taken by military and sent out of town. Ipek receives news that Blue and Hande were shot. Blames Ka.

Kadife continues with play and “accidentally” shoots Zaim. The coup is subdued.

The narrator, Orhan Pamuk, describes his search for information concerning Ka’s life. Ipek still believes Ka betrayed Blue.

ED