A native of western Flanders, Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq served in several posts as diplomatic representative for the Habsburg ruler Ferdinand I (King of Bohemia and Hungary, 1526--64, and Holy Roman Emperor, 1556--64). Busbecq's most famous mission was undoubtedly to the Ottoman Empire at the zenith of its power and glory during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. In four letters to his friend Nicholas Michault -- who had been Busbecq's fellow student in Italy and afterwards was imperial ambassador to the Portuguese court -- he details impressions on everything he saw and experienced in...