Istanbul has served as the capital of three universal empires and has seen numerous civilizations throughout history. Though Istanbul is today a vibrant, multilayered city, it has been the scene of major historical and cultural transformations which lead to the city being home to authors and poets who left a lasting impression on Turkish literature. In addition to being inspired by the city, these writers also contributed to the city's reputation as one of the most culturally significant towns. It is its multilayered nature that continues to make Istanbul a hugely influential place in terms of art, history, and most importantly, literature.
Istanbul, located on the coast of Marmara Sea, has served as a crossroad for civilizations from various eras. The Eastern and Western worlds have always met in this ancient city, where the arts and culture have been allowed to flourish. Due to its ongoing interactions with both the Eastern and Western worlds, the city has come to represent freedom and change. Russian, English, and French authors, poets, and artists were all welcomed in Istanbul during the nineteenth century. Many of the intellectuals who came to Istanbul left their mark on Turkish literature and became well-known on the national scene. It is one of the reasons why Paris, Istanbul, and London are accepted as historical centers for intellectuals and artists.
After the declaration of Ankara as the capital of the new state on October 13, 1923, Istanbul lost its place as the seat of the government along with its political identity as the capital. Despite this political shift, over time, Istanbul started gaining different and diverse values, becoming the cultural capital of Türkiye. As a result of this transformation, the city's literary and artistic contribution to Turkish history increased in a very big magnitude.
Istanbul developed Türkiye's publishing industry and publishing technology more than any other Turkish city, making it an undeniably significant metropolis for the country's culture and literature. Istanbul's rich environment of culture, literature, and art attracted artists. Literature communities were established and the discussions and trends within these communities centered on the various literary generations and their preferences. Istanbul was the birthplace of many concepts and the epicenter of art and culture. The city's continuous interactions with the Eastern and Western worlds made it a symbol of freedom of expression, rebellion, and change.
Writers offer a window into the city they live in during their times , and every city reflects different characteristics and manifestations throughout its history. Despite the fact that Istanbul portrayed by the poets of divan and folk literature tends to differ from the approaches of contemporary Turkish authors, there is still a strong relation between some features of both. For example, the medieval depictions of Istanbul as a city that has a romantic nature and a location appropriate for stories in which lovers unite, are also common in the works of modern Turkish authors in stories written in the late twentieth century, such as Orhan Pamuk's works. The Divan or folk poets' descriptions of Istanbul as a paradise for lovers acted as a model for other writers of later periods to see Istanbul as a city where love and life are always unique and fascinating.
Modern writers were obviously aware of the significance of Istanbul's role in Turkish national identity. The novels of modern Turkish writers place Istanbul in different contexts. While each novel is different, modern Turkish writers use the city as a symbol of richness, creativity, and beauty. Authors such as Zülfu Livaneli and Ahmet Ümit, who are leading figures in Turkish literature, repeatedly have characters and situations centered in the imperial city of Istanbul, whether they are looking at the city from the perspective of its past or modern Türkiye.
Perhaps hundreds of books have been written about Istanbul. It is a city with a long history, amazing architecture and intriguing geography, and it has countless stories and legends that are waiting to be told.
Works Cited
Andı, Fatih. “https://istanbultarihi.ist/610-istanbul-in-turkish-literature-from-the-nineteenth-century-to-the-present.” History of İstanbul, istanbultarihi.ist/610-istanbul-in-turkish-literature-from-the-nineteenth-century-to-the-present. Accessed 23 Nov. 2022.
Yazılım, SaveAs. “XIX. YÜZYILDAN XXI. YÜZYILA TÜRK EDEBİYATINDA İSTANBUL | Büyük İstanbul Tarihi.” Büyük İstanbul Tarihi, 2015, istanbultarihi.ist/248-xix-yuzyildan-xxi-yuzyila-turk-edebiyatinda-istanbul.
Bilgi İşlem Şube Müdürlüğü, İstanbul Valiliği. “İskender Pala: ‘İstanbul Üzerine Edebiyatın Sözü Bitmez.’” İskender Pala: “İstanbul Üzerine Edebiyatın Sözü Bitmez,” 12 June 2019, www.istanbul.gov.tr/iskender-pala-istanbul-uzerine-edebiyatin-sozu-bitmez.
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