falling in love with the underage slave girl he bought in Constantinople. Seriously.

So that is a bit odd for a modern reader. But I personally like the fact that in the book he doesn't end up with Mercedes. It's much more honest. The movie is all neat and tidy and Hollywood:

"Oh, you just killed the man I always thought was my father, but no big deal because my mom's been shagging you and she says you're my daddy now."