Hüküm Gecesi by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu

However, when we look at the accumulation of literary tastes today, it is natural to see that the Istanbul described by the poets of divan and folk literature differs from the perceptions of modern Turkish authors. Istanbul has become the dominant color of classical Turkish literature its hues have become more apparent from the time after the conquest. It is possible that this was true even from a date much earlier than that of the conquest, as demonstrated in works such as Stories of Dede Korkut, Epic of Battal Gazi and Saltuknâme. Even though its features, tones and proportions have changed, the colors used when depicting Istanbul as reflected in literature have manifested themselves since 1453 - or arguably even earlier. However, this picture is not exclusive to today.

In fact, Istanbul is a very rich and popular thematic core in contemporary Turkish literature as well.

The formation of this subject has come to us today with an increase in its historical visage which the city had gained over time, as well as the civilization that had been created over the different eras and the traces of life and their manifestations. Since its conquest, from generation to generation, from one period to another, this city, has become the subject of the work of intellectuals, artists, men of letters and thinkers with its aforementioned identity. This city became representative of a great, rich and highly authoritative civilization through both the lifestyle established here, which was reflected and carried forward with the forms, values, acknowledgments, experiences and accumulation that had been built by the sensitivities that were used to establish this life style.

Istanbul ranks first among the oldest and most magnificent cities in both Turkish history and Islamic history and civilization -to which the former belonged- to have been established which still survives today.

Hüküm Gecesi by Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu