Yaban
Encyclopedia
Yaban is a 1932
novel by Turkish
author Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu
.
The book tells the story of Ahmet Celal, a retired Turkish officer
and an intellectual, who leaves Istanbul
after its occupation
by the British
army in 1918 and heads for the rustic village of one of his soldiers in central Anatolia
. In this anti-pastoralist account, he finds that he is not welcomed by the peasant
s, although he once idealised them. Instead, he is sharply critical of the villagers' religious fundamentalism
and their lack of patriotism
toward the nationalist cause, even as the Turkish Army
under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
is getting closer to realising its goal of achieving total independence
. As he spends time in the village, he becomes more and more isolated by the local inhabitants and loses his personal war.
It shows a different side of the Turkish people towards the events of those days compared to the common "everybody was happy" view you hear everywhere and shows the instability of Turkish unity in 1918.
1932 in literature
The year 1932 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*E. V. Knox replaces Sir Owen Seaman as editor of Punch magazine.*Samuel Beckett's first novel, Dream of Fair to Middling Women, is rejected by several publishers....
novel by Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
author Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu was a Turkish novelist, journalist, diplomat, and senator.-Early life:...
.
The book tells the story of Ahmet Celal, a retired Turkish officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and an intellectual, who leaves Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
after its occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
army in 1918 and heads for the rustic village of one of his soldiers in central Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. In this anti-pastoralist account, he finds that he is not welcomed by the peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s, although he once idealised them. Instead, he is sharply critical of the villagers' religious fundamentalism
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
and their lack of patriotism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
toward the nationalist cause, even as the Turkish Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
is getting closer to realising its goal of achieving total independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. As he spends time in the village, he becomes more and more isolated by the local inhabitants and loses his personal war.
It shows a different side of the Turkish people towards the events of those days compared to the common "everybody was happy" view you hear everywhere and shows the instability of Turkish unity in 1918.