Tuesday 19 May 2015

Famous Writers That Wrote About Their Days in Istanbul


Many people have come to Istanbul at different times and most of them have seen different faces of it. Istanbul, as a fast growing city, changes rapidly. Some values, many threes and more are lost, but it is becoming more and more popular. Are you curious about what famous writers wrote about Istanbul or Constantinople? Well, I was, and I made a little research. Here are the top nine of my findings:

1. Edmondo de Amicis - Constantinople


I read this recently and I strongly recommend it. Edmondo de Amicis came to Istanbul in 1870's with his painter friend Enrico Junk. He describes everything about Istanbul in detail. There details contain both pozitive and negative memories. He has such a sweet tone of voice that it is impossible not to be mesmerized. Turkish edition comes with the engravings of Cesare Biseo. (The photo above is one of Biseo's works.)

2. Hilary Sumner-Boyd and John Freely


Hilary  Sumner-Boyd had given lectures at Bogazici University for 35 years and she prepared this book with John Freely, who is also a renowed lecturer and an Istanbul lover. (John Freely has indeed lots of books about Istanbul. It was hard for me to choose one.) He still gives lectures at Bogazici University. Unfortunately I missed the recent one. His daugther Maureen Freely was born in Istanbul and is also a famous writer. By the way, this book is full of beautiful Istanbul photos.

3. Philip Mansel - Constantinople: City of the World's Desire


Philip Mansel is an English historian and writer. In this book, he narrates Istanbul's history between 1453 (the conquest of Constantinople) and 1924 (one year after the Turkish Republic founded). I haven't had the chance to read it, but people who read it say that it has a fascinating narrative.

4. Gérard de Nerval - Journey to the Orient


Journey to the Orient, or Voyage to the Orient is a famous work of Gérard de Nerval, who is a French poet and writer. This book was published in 1851 and contains many cities of the Eastern world, including Constantinople. He was an adventurous and a curious person. He wanted to soak into the orient and I guess he managed to do so.

5. Alphonso de Lamartine - History of Turkey


Lamartine is one of the most influential people in Istanbul. He was a writer, poet and a politician. He has a so-called saying: "If you have to look at the world once, just look at Istanbul." Well, Istanbul has heard him. There is a Lamartine Street at Talimhane. When I was writing Ihlamur Pavilion, I found out that he was a fan of Ihlamur Gardens, before the pavilions were built.

6. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu - Turkish Embassy Letters


Finally, a woman in our list! Lady Mary is an English aristocrat and a writer. Today, she is widely known with her letters from Turkey, as the wife of the Britich Ambassador. He is described by Billie Melman as "the very first example of a secular work by a woman about the Muslim Orient" (Wikipedia).

She definitely loved Turkish dresses.

7. Théophile Gautier - Constantinople


It looks like poets and writers has always loved Istanbul. Gautier is a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist and a critic of art and literature. He wrote this book in 1853.

8. Jorge Luis Borges - Atlas


Atlas is the collection of the travel articles of Jorge Luis Borges. He travels with his wife, after he goes blind. So the articles are totally written in a different sense of view. Istanbul takes only two pages in Atlas, but those lines are totally unforgettable. He thinks three days aren't enough to get to know Turkey. He also recommends his readers to visit there again and again.


0 yorum:

Post a Comment

Copyright © 2015 Istanbul Friendly