Five of the best books about Turkey
Turkey is a country that enjoys sharing tales – through lengthy chats in tea houses, through music and grand stories, and of course, through written words as well. As Turkey reaches its hundredth year, here are five top books that offer insight into the country's initial century.
"Irfan Orga's Turkish Family Portrait"
Thinking back to his early years, Orga recalls enjoying chilled melon served on a fancy silver platter when he was startled by the sound of war drums, signaling the start of World War I in Istanbul. This marked the beginning of nearly ten years of conflict for him and others in Turkey. In his memoir, he delves into the tumultuous early days of the Turkish republic, chronicling the hardships faced by his once affluent Ottoman family as they spiraled into destitution and shame. The book is a poignant and elegantly written account of this period in history, but be sure to read the epilogue for a surprising revelation about the true identity of the author.
Time Regulation Institute By Ahmet Tanpinar
Taking place in the early days of the Turkish republic, Tanpinar’s book was a revolutionary critique of the political landscape of Turkey during that time. The novel focused on the government's efforts to modernize the country through various reforms that were both empowering and oppressive. Following a fictional institute named after the protagonist, the story revolves around their mission to ensure all citizens and their timepieces are accurate. While the narrative is at times whimsical and nonsensical, Tanpinar's writing reveals a profound adoration for Istanbul. He beautifully describes the city's sunsets as “an evening that unfolded like a ribbon, transitioning from deep red to shimmering gold.”
Nazim Hikmet's Poems In English
Hikmet, an admired poet from Turkey, was a member of the communist party and was jailed in his home country before being sent to Moscow. His poetry, which was not allowed in Turkey for a long time, focuses on the lives of ordinary people and is written in simple Turkish. Despite his political views, he was primarily known for his romantic nature.
Facing Shameless Death With Latife Tekin
One major shift in Turkey over the past 50 years can be seen in the population growth of Istanbul. In 1950, the population was about one million, but now it has grown to 16 million. Tekin's novel focuses on a young girl named Dirmit and her family, giving a voice to the masses who migrated from rural areas to urban centers. The book, written in a magical realist style, also acknowledges the spiritual beings brought along on this journey, such as angels and djinn, treating them with the same importance as the human characters in the story.
Ahmet Altan: Never Seeing The World Again
In 2016, author Altan was arrested and placed in prison, along with his brother and many others – the targets of Turkey’s crackdown after its unsuccessful coup. Nevertheless, Altan still had a desire to write. So, for seven months, he managed to secretly send handwritten notes to his attorneys, slowly creating a memoir of his experiences in Silivri, Turkey’s largest and most infamous prison. Crafted with the precision of a fiction writer, it serves as proof of the Turkish people's enduring belief in the power of storytelling. Altan expresses, "Like all writers, I possess magic. I can effortlessly pass through your barriers."
Sami Kent's book, "The Endless Country: A Personal Journey Through Turkey's First Hundred Years," is available for purchase from Picador for £20. You can also support the Guardian and the Observer by ordering your copy from guardianbookshop.com. Please note that delivery charges may be applicable.
