Orlando

The biographer describes how many important documents from this next major part of Orlando’s life have been destroyed. At this time, Orlando is out of England and living in Constantinople as an ambassador. Despite playing an important role in the negotiations between King Charles II and the Turkish people, these negotiations, likely because of the destruction of the documents, are not the focus of this chapter.

While he finds Turkey drastically different from England, Orlando enjoys Constantinople’s diversity. The biographer describes Orlando’s daily routine as an ambassador. Despite the noble trappings of his duties, Orlando has tired of his life in Turkey. He often retreats to the mountains to read poetry. While his career is not fulfilling, he carries out his duties well, and he is given a dukedom by King Charles II.

After being given his title, Orlando throws a magnificent, lavish party. The biographer uses fragments of diaries and letters to describe the event. Drawing from a newspaper article, the biographer describes a ceremony where Orlando is to be honored with a golden crown of strawberry leaves. As it is being placed upon his head, civil unrest erupts outside. people. Demonstrators rush into the party. The disturbance is squelched by British soldiers and the party continues until two a.